A 95 home development in Abbots Langley will go ahead after councillors approving the application said they “have very little choice”.

The development which will be built in land off Woodside Road by housing developers Taylor Wimpey was first revealed by Taylor Wimpey in September last year and immediately sparked outrage among people living in the area.

The plans were then put in front of Three Rivers District Council’s planning committee for the first time on July 16 and councillors recommended a site visit take place on August 8.

At a planning meeting to determine whether the plans should go ahead was held tonight.

Abbots Langley resident Gemma Canning spoke against the development and stressed the consultation between the residents and Taylor Wimpey had been virtually non-existent.

She said: “The main concern by residents is till to do with the increase in traffic and flooding.

“We appreciate that a site visit was carried out by the committee but an early Saturday morning during the school holidays doesn’t really effect the working school day and the traffic that Woodside Road is subjected to.

“Under the Freedom of Information Act, Hertfordshire Constabulary have confirmed that there were 24 serious road traffic accidents within the proposed development area since the 2001 census and a further 24 minor accidents between January 2009 to august 2015.

“Therefore there has been 48 reported accidents before this development even starts.”

She added there were still concerns about flooding as residents living in Orchard Avenue, which is next to the development site, have gardens which regularly flood.

Hannah Pattinson, strategic land project manager for Taylor Wimpey reiterated that the development no longer lies within the Green Belt and that the principle of development on the site had been accepted.

She said: “We do take public consultation very seriously.

“I can confirm that this site is deliverable, developable and available.”

Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, chairman of Abbots Langley Parish Council, was also present at the meeting. He said: “This [the development] has come about because we have been let down by the county council.”

Nine councillors on the planning committee were in favour of the application, one against and two abstained.

Councillor Phil Brading said: “I am reluctant to see this site developed but we have very little choice”.

After the final verdict was made, Chairman of the planning committee Councillor Chris Whately-Smith said as members they would need to watch closely the outcome of the development and that there are a lot of considerations which need to be taken on by Taylor Wimpey.