Council petitioned to reinstate Bengeo Green Belt

A petition requesting that land removed from the Green Belt in the District Plan be reinstated was presented to the full council on Wednesday 13th December.

A planning application for 118 homes has been submitted for the site by Borehamwood-based developer Durkan, who have recently completed 52 homes on the neighbouring Bengeo Nursery site in Sacombe Road.

Local residents are objecting to the planned development and asking the council to put a decision on hold.

The site was allocated for housing in the District Plan on condition that quarrying for minerals take place before any housing is built. However, plans for a quarry were turned down by Hertfordshire County Council and a subsequent appeal againts the decision dismissed by the government.

Bengeo councillor Alex Darr (Green Party) supported the petition, saying: "From the time I moved to Bengeo 25 years ago, I have walked across Bengeo Field regularly and during lockdown almost daily.

"I completely get the request from local residents for this land to be returned to the green belt."

Petition - Protect Bengeo Field landscape and return it to Green Belt

We the undersigned petition the Council to protect Bengeo Field from further housing development and return this beautiful landscape to Green Belt. We request that any planning decisions are put on hold and the full consultation on reinstating the Green Belt takes place.

Bengeo Field spreads alongside Wadesmill Road and Sacombe Road just on the edge of Hertford and is much loved and utilised by local residents. There is very strong local objection to further development in Bengeo Field and we are asking EHDC Councillors and planners to take into account our concerns.

This land was designated as green belt. It was removed from green belt protection on the assumption that, after minerals had been extracted, the landscape quality would have deteriorated and this reduced quality would then make it acceptable for residential development.

The minerals plan enquiry, approved by the Secretary of State, determined that the landscape of Bengeo Field was of exceptionally high value and was the primary grounds for rejection of the minerals extraction application.

This was not fully taken into account in the Local Plan inspection when the green belt designation was changed without any specific public consultation. We request that any planning decisions are put on hold and the full consultation on reinstating the Green Belt takes place.

However, any move to return the land to the green belt could take several years.

The council's Executive Member for planning and Growth, Vicky Green (Green Party), said: "The site was taken out of the green belt and allocated for development when the District Plan was adopted in 2018.

"Housing need was, and continues to be, acute in East Herts, and the supply and suitability of land outside the green belt is quite constrained.

"The council cannot consider amending designations by reinstating the green belt outside of a district plan-making process.

"Whilst the council has agreed the district plan should be updated, this will take several years. In the meantime, planning applications will continue to be decided in line with the District Plan 2018."

The ePetition ran from 16/09/2023 to 19/11/2023 and was signed by 305 people.