Council could face Judicial Review of Bengeo housing plan

East Herts Council could be forced in to a Judicial Review of its decision to grant planning permission for 118 homes on former Green Belt land west of Wadesmill Road.

The approved plans will see housebuilder Durkan extend their development on the former Bengeo Nursery site further north into the field between Sacombe Road and Wadesmill Road.

A residents' group opposed to the plans have sought legal advice, claiming that the way that the planning officer's report was constructed failed to give adequate weight to the fact that the EHDC local plan was clear that housing would only be built subsequent to a quarry being worked and that the Council process was adequate or appropriate. The group are currently raising funds for further legal advice.

The controversial plans drew over 1200 formal objections to the planning application. However, an East Herts Council planning officer recommended that planning permission be granted and a subsequent meeting of the council's Develeopment Control Committee agreed to approve planning permission.