Yahoo News More than 100 objections lodged over 675-home plan near village
Plans for over 600 homes in a Chorleywood Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been branded “ridiculous” after they received over 100 objections from residents.
The application by planning agent Savills, on behalf of the Chiltern Hills Golf Club Ltd, is currently “pending consideration” by Three Rivers District Council.
It would see 675 homes up to three-storeys high and a two-form entry primary school built on the 55.8-acre site east of Green Street, which is currently used for cattle grazing.
A masterplan of the proposed 675-home development near Chorleywood. (Image: Savills / Three Rivers District Council)
As of today, May 7, 120 public comments have been lodged with the district council of which there are 118 objections and none in favour.
The objections have raised concerns that the proposed development would negatively impact the surrounding area, as it is located within the Green Belt and the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
One Chorleywood resident suggested an additional 600 homes would be “massively impactful” on local roads and would put extra pressure on the available places at the St Clement Danes School secondary academy, which has a capacity for 1,590 students.
“It just feels like this is going to overwhelm Chorleywood, and destroy the atmosphere and nature of the village,” they added. “It's just a bad idea.”
Another local said: “It will destroy an area of outstanding natural beauty, constitute damaging urban sprawl, damage irreparably the natural fauna and flora of this area including many protected species and place an unrecoverable burden on local resources including water, sewage, transport and health resources.”
They asked the district council to reject the “ridiculous application” which they said would damage the village “for generations”.
Savills previously withdrew its appeal with the planning inspectorate last November after plans for 800 homes on the same site were rejected in March 2023.
A drawing of how the previous 800-home development would have looked. (Image: Savills / Three Rivers District Council)
The Chiltern Hills Golf Club defended the plans stating that it had addressed the previous reasons for refusal and would provide “a number of benefits”, including up to 50 per cent affordable housing, a new primary school and public play facilities for children.
It argued that residents would also benefit from new football pitches, a clubhouse and sports hub under plans for the golf club site to the west side of Green Street.
A spokesperson added: “The proposals provide an unrivalled opportunity to deliver housing in a highly accessible and sustainable location in close proximity to Chorleywood station, that will bring new life to the local town centre, sports and community facilities.”
