Residents fear village will treble in size by 2040

People living in a village say they are worried they will become "the sacrificial lambs of new planning rules".

Redbourn in Hertfordshire has about 2,600 homes, but residents said they feared development over the next 15 years could see that treble to 7,500.

David Mitchell, Independent councillor for the village at St Albans City & District Council, said he was concerned Redbourn could become an "urban corridor between Hemel Hempstead and Harpenden".

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) said revised housing targets were "in line with the needs of local areas, so more homes will be built in the right places alongside necessary infrastructure".

The government has reset national targets to increase England's housing stock by 5% over the next five years and the St Albans district, which includes Redbourn, is earmarked for 1,660 homes a year.

Mitchell said he was concerned the countryside between Hemel and Harpenden would disappear.

He said "people in Redbourn accepted we need to build some houses" but "did not understand why so many could be built" there.

He feared it could be "the beginning of the end of Redbourn as we know it".

Pauline Willis moved to the centre of the village when her husband died.

"Everybody is so lovely; you go down the High Street and always have a chat with somebody and there are many, many things to do as a community," she said.

She added she would "hate to see it become urban sprawl".

Deana Barge has lived in Redbourn for 30 years and said she was keen to "make people aware of how villages were under attack" from development.

She claimed the growth figure for the village was actually "between 200 and 300%" which she said "seemed very unfair".

Former architect Paul Bonnington said "the density [of the village] would increase" but "the size of houses and gardens would shrink" as a result of any development.

He added this was "nothing like what we wanted when we moved here 20 years ago to bring up our children".

The MHCLG spokesperson said the Labour government had "inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory".

They added that "all areas must play their part to build 1.5 million homes across the country so we can restore the dream of home ownership".

What makes Redbourn an attractive place for developers?

• It is within easy reach of larger locations in Hertfordshire, including Hemel Hempstead and St Albans
• It is located alongside the M1 motorway with easy access to junction nine
• It is about 30 minutes away from London via train from nearby Harpenden into St Pancras station
• There is a large amount of green belt and farmland surrounding the village with several development applications being considered, including one from the Lawes Agricultural Trust for 1,000 homes next to Harpenden Lane which would include 50% affordable housing, a primary school and a care home

Another development that would have an impact on the village is The Crown Estate's proposal to build 4,000 homes in the East Hemel area, along with new schools and health and community facilities.

If those plans are approved it is anticipated about 1,500 of those homes would be built in the Redbourn parish.

Rob Chesworth, head of strategic land at The Crown Estate, said: "East Hemel marks a rare opportunity to create a place that will serve the people of Hertfordshire for generations to come, providing quality homes and jobs, and supporting the wider ambitions of the area."

He added that "over the past 18 months, we've been encouraged and sustained by the enthusiasm of local residents, stakeholders and our partners, who have helped to shape this vision through their passion and ideas".

The East Hemel application has gone out to public consultation on behalf of both St Albans City & District Council and neighbouring Dacorum Borough Council, as the site straddles both districts. It is due to end on 26 January.

St Albans, which is run by the Liberal Democrats, was approached for further comment, but a spokesman said it was not able to make an official statement while applications were being considered.

The Lawes Agricultural Trust has also been approached for comment.

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