New fight to save Thorley Lane East Woods from development
Campaigners are incredulous after a developer launched an 11th-hour appeal to build at Thorley Lane East Woods.
Christopher Hennem, of Stansted’s The Planning Consultancy, has asked the Planning Inspectorate to review East Herts Council’s decision to refuse permission for a new home in the wildlife haven.
The authority threw out the plan because it would harm the Green Belt, urbanise the countryside and be visually intrusive and out of character.
The refusal also cited insufficient information from the applicant about the impact on ecology, biodiversity and protected species and the consequences for the trees.
The design of the new home was criticised, with “restricted levels of natural light and overshadowing” resulting in “poor quality living conditions”.
Since August 2022, the Thorley Lane East Woods Action Group has been battling attempts to sell the land to speculators and block any building.
The landowner has rejected attempts to buy the wood by both the town council and residents to ensure it remains untouched Green Belt.
The campaigners are gearing up to fight the new development bid, which will be determined by an independent inspector.
Their strategy is to make the adjudicator aware of the “volume of voices” opposed to building at what the applicant calls Rooks Wood.
Mr Hennem wants to erect a “passive house” with up to four bedrooms on the 3-hectare (7.4-acre) site where tree preservation orders are in force.
In the appeal statement, the applicant argues the case for approval. Although just one property is proposed, he says Green Belt restrictions should be lifted because of “very special circumstances” and to meet the “pressing need for additional housing within the district.”
It cites a recent appeal victory by a developer after an inspector ruled EHC could not demonstrate the five-year deliverable housing land supply required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The statement also repeats the applicant’s claim that developing Rooks Wood will “enhance an existing woodland that is currently in decline”.
However, the estimated £60,000 cost of starting “to put the site back into a healthy environment” can only be met, it argues, by building and selling the new house.
The statement claims the development will “incorporate a comprehensive landscaping strategy to mitigate visual impacts and preserve the existing trees”.
The applicant claims he has been unable to discuss proposals “to seamlessly integrate the development with the surrounding woodland” with the district council.
The appeal grounds repeat a commitment to open the enhanced woodland to the public and for educational purposes.
