Estate of 96 homes planned between Oxhey and Carpenders Park

Land to the south of Elm Lane, Watford Heath, and east of Oxhey Lane is being eyed for the scheme, which includes two and three-bedroom terraces and four-bedroom houses.

There would also be landscaped open land, community space, and parking.

(Image: gs8/Three Rivers planning portal) Applicant gs8 Homes Limited says the project would “create much-needed affordable starter homes within the area” by focussing on smaller units with the housing in “clusters” to leave lots of room for greenery and a community building.

“Gs8 propose to bring forward an innovative, planet-positive development on the site that is shaped by the Oxhey community,” it said, highlighting the low carbon and low waste design.

“The scheme aims to offer back to the community, with a shared community green asset to the entrance of the site, providing public space for recreation.”

Half of the homes would be designated as affordable and open spaces include woodland, a pond, and landscaped areas prioritising native species.

Access would be via a new road from Oxhey Lane, between the Auburn Mare Assisted Living facility and Any Skips.

(Image: gs8/Three Rivers planning portal) The application was submitted to Three Rivers District Council rather than Watford Borough Council, as it falls just over the district’s border between Watford’s Oxhey and Three Rivers’ Carpenders Park.

A determination deadline of September 25 has been set, with a July 24 deadline for neighbour comments in place.

Map showing the proposed site layout (Image: gs8/Three Rivers planning portal)

So far, objections have come in from 13 neighbours.

Oxhey residents said it would make living in homes backing onto the site “unbearable” and highlighted that nearby services such as medical practices and primary schools are already under strain.

Some from Carpenders Park feared that building on green space between the suburb and Oxhey would make it merge into Watford.

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“Let's not let Carpenders Park become swallowed and lose its rural appeal,” one objection letter said.

There were also concerns over the safety of the new turning from Oxhey Lane, which would be on a bend.

The land was an open field until the early 2000s, when tree planting and other growth created a landscape of trees, scrub, and grassland.