The future of an area of "educational grazing land" in South Oxhey, marked as a potential site for new homes, was debated last night.

More than 1,000 residents signed a petition against the removal of the field, behind Heysham Drive and Foxgrove Path, from the protected green belt, leaving it open to housing development.

The plans were discussed at last night's executive committee meeting of Three Rivers District Council, during a section on the newly produced Local Development Framework.

The expansive document sets out where houses could be built in the district to fill the council's new housing target.

Councillors Martin Trevett, who helped produce the document, said: "It is the result of literally years of work from the working group, none of these decisions were made on the hoof.

"We have looked at all the issues surrounding these sites and there are several aspects that concern people."

Opposing the plans, resident Colin Viall, said: "South Oxhey is already the most populated area in Three Rivers.

"We are taking one third of the new housing target in our area, local infrastructure will not cope."

Council leader Ann Shaw explained that the housing targets must be met, by either "cramming" existing areas or by picking off a few areas of green belt land.

She added: "We are in a ghastly situation where we have to find and nominate housing sites.

"If we don't meet these targets, a refused planning development in an inappropriate area could appeal on the basis that the council has not met its targets."

Councillor Trevett described the sites in the Local Development Framework as "the least worst options".

The committee eventually agreed that other sites in the area could be investigated to see if they were able to take extra homes, removing the need for a development in Foxgrove Path.

The site will remain in the green belt, but will also remain a possible site for new homes until other options are investigated.

Councillor Ty Harris said: "This is a victory for the local community to keep this land within the Greenbelt and we will need to work hard to keep it."