'Betrayed' residents fight to save Bengeo Field

1 day ago

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter

News image — Andrew Stevenson stands near the old oak that is one of the much-loved features of Bengeo Field

Martin Heath/BBC Andrew Stevenson is wearing a dark green head covering with furry flaps over the ears, a green waxed jacket and purple scarf. He is standing a few yards away from an oak tree, beside a path marked in a green field with hedges in the far distance. — Andrew Stevenson stands near the old oak that is one of the much-loved features of Bengeo Field

A group of residents who say they feel betrayed by their local council are taking their fight to save a field to the law courts.

They claim planning permission was given for 118 houses on Bengeo Field in Hertford, despite a condition that housing would only be permitted once the landscape had been changed by a proposed quarry that never got the go-ahead.

Although their request for a judicial review was refused, the residents are preparing to challenge that decision in court.

East Hertfordshire Council said there is no such restriction on development in the district plan, and that it had a responsibility to provide new homes.

Bengeo Field lies to the north of Hertford and is described by Aska Pickering, who lives nearby, as "a beautiful landscape very close to Hertford town - we've got lots of people walking with their dogs [and] families and cycling".

The East Hertfordshire District Plan states that a housing development would only be permitted on the site "subject to the satisfactory previous phased extraction of mineral deposits on the neighbouring site".

More council documents appear to confirm that there would be no housing unless the landscape had already been changed by a quarry.

'No consideration'

An application to extract minerals from the site was refused in 2019, so no quarry was created there.

But the council then granted permission for 118 homes on the field.

Andrew Stevenson, who was a county councillor when the quarry application was turned down, said: "I certainly feel betrayed in that sense as to the reassurances I was given at the time, which have just been completely and utterly ignored.

"There was no consideration of the background; no consideration of this condition."

The campaigners took on barristers for the council and the developer in court to seek permission for a judicial review of the authority's decision to grant permission.

Martin Heath/BBC Simon Collyer with short dark hair and dark-framed glasses wearing a red and orange jacket and green and brown scarf. He is standing in a field which appears to have a crop planted in it. There are hedges and trees in the distance. — Simon Collyer says this month's hearing is the last chance to get the decision scrutinised in the courts

Simon Collyer, another member of the group, said: "Our claim was rejected but it wasn't rejected as totally without merit.

"Because it wasn't totally without merit, we were allowed seven days to apply for a reconsideration to keep our claim going and now we have a renewal hearing at the end of January.

"That is our last chance to try and get a judicial review."

Martin Heath/BBC Aska Pickering with long blonde hair wearing a blue sweater and blue zip-up jacket standing in a field which appears to have a crop in it. There are hedges and trees in the background. — Aska Pickering says the field is "a beautiful landscape"

A spokesperson for East Hertfordshire Council said: "There is nothing in the district plan that restricts development of the site for housing if mineral extraction has not taken place.

"This issue, along with the other points raised, was considered by the court and dismissed by the Honourable Justice Lang on 3 November 2025, when the application for judicial review was refused.

"We understand that people feel very strongly about this site, and we share the desire to protect the most valued parts of our district. At the same time, we have a responsibility to make sure enough new homes are provided for those who need them."

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