Haart removes £150,000 ‘for sale’ listing as campaign intensifies to save Thorley Lane East Woods

Campaigners are ramping up their fight to save Thorley Lane East Woods from speculators.

Last month the Green Belt wildlife haven was offered for sale on Facebook by the owner’s husband. This month it was listed by estate agent Haart.

Previously it has been put up for auction as one 3.1-acre lot or divided into parcels.

All the while, Thorley Lane East Woods Action Group has been working to ensure all prospective purchasers are aware of the protections in place.

The Haart listing – inviting offers and a guide price of £150,000 – was removed this week just after the Indie challenged the estate agency about the lack of detail provided. A spokesperson for the company said: “Haart is not currently marketing this site.”

A spokeswoman for the action group said before the advert disappeared: “The owner has listed the entire woodland for sale at offers over £150,000.

“It does not mention that the woodland is in Green Belt, that it has a Woodland Tree Preservation Order protecting each and every tree, branch, leaf and root now and in the future, that it has special designation in the [Bishop’s Stortford] Neighbourhood Plan and the Forestry Commission too.

“It makes no reference to the protected wildlife that reside in or close to the woodland.

“Offers to purchase the woodland from the owner at a sensible price have been rejected and this outlandish idea that the woodland is worth anywhere near the sum being requested is outrageous.

“Anyone thinking it is worth upwards of £150,000 just has to look at the strength of constraints on the site and the previous applications to build within this precious green lung that have all failed – all for the same reason that this woodland is an inappropriate location for any building of any sort.

“We will continue to ensure all relevant information is available to any prospective purchaser for them to make their own mind up as to how valuable this woodland is.”

Despite its protected status, the woodland is the subject of an ongoing planning appeal after East Herts Council refused planning permission for a so-called eco-house on the Green Belt plot.

Previous applications for a home and garage were lodged in 1994 and 2002, but both were refused by the district council and again by an independent inspector at appeal.

Bishop’s Stortford Town Council’s leader has backed residents’ efforts to save the site. The action group wants the council to revive its efforts to buy the land for the community.

In 2022, the council made two unsuccessful offers. At the time, the woodland was being marketed for up to £250,000 – far more than its value as amenity land, then estimated at around £40,000.

Last week, Liberal Democrat Cllr Miriam Swainston, who has led the town council since May 2023, said that she was “very happy” to support the campaign and meet the group to discuss options.

She also said that town council chief executive Huw Jones was making arrangements to have the issue considered by councillors.