A petition signed by 2,750 people opposed to Green Belt development plans in Kings Langley will go before the House of Commons.

Mike Penning, MP representing the village, agreed to raise the stakes after receiving the petition at Wayside Farm from parish councillors acting on behalf of villagers “unequivocally opposed” to four areas being considered within the Green Belt.

Mr Penning was moved to take things a step further following a village poll which saw a 99 per cent vote against Dacorum Borough Council’s local plan to develop Shendish, Hill Farm, Rectory Farm and Wayside Farm, in Kings Langley.

Previously, when speaking to the Watford Observer, Mr Penning said he was “appalled” by the plans, adding: “Overdevelopment of Kings Langley would change the village forever.”

One of the farmers affected, Charlie Wray of Wayside Farm, has been embroiled in an ongoing fight since last year to stop as many as 1,000 homes being built on the 160-acre council-owned site, home to his cattle for the last 38 years.

Mr Wray, who retains one of Hertfordshire’s last remaining Jersey dairy farms, said he feared losing his livelihood and his home if the plans went ahead.

In November last year, 800 villagers gathered in support of Mr Wray at an extraordinary parish meeting at Kings Langley School.

Mr Penning said: “We need to protect the setting and special character of Kings Langley by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land in and around the borough.

“This does not mean villagers are opposed to any new housing in the village, but it must be sympathetic to the open character of the village and the contribution that is made to that by the Green Belt.”

Speaking about the petition, Howard Button, chair of Kings Langley Parish Council, said: “The petition will require a formal response from the Government to the concerns of Kings Langley residents.

“In addition, we will be reminding Dacorum that any future proposals must have firstly examined all other options for meeting its identified need for housing and commercial development.”