Plans for 160 homes at Killingdown Farm in Croxley Green deferred

The planning committee at Three Rivers District Council met virtually last week to discuss a scheme to redevelop Killingdown Farm on the outskirts of Croxley Green.

The plans, which drew nearly 270 objections, involved the demolition of some existing farm buildings and the creation of 160 family homes and flats.

Councillors had a number of concerns about the proposal which included the impact on the conservation area, of which the application site partially sits, the impact on nearby Grade II listed buildings, and development within the green belt.

Numerous members of the committee also raised concerns about access in and out of the proposed new housing estate.

Although the currently single-track Little Green Lane would be widened, there was a suggestion from councillors that the road would not be wide enough.

Little Green Lane, by the entrance to Killingdown Farm, looking towards The Green. Credit: Google Maps

Marked out in red is the application site. Credit: Google Maps

There were murmurs from members to refuse the application on the night, but the majority of the committee voted to defer the application to allow the council to undertake its own study into highway access.

The plans, put forward by estate agency firm Carter Jonas, involved the creation of a new housing estate for Croxley Green.

The proposed site for development was listed by the council in 2014 as an acceptable housing site and the land was subsequently taken out of the green belt.

However, the plans do include an attenuation pond on a bit of land to the north of the housing site, which is in the green belt.

The scheme does meet the council’s affordable housing policy, with 45 per cent of the 160 homes designated as "affordable". Out of the 72 affordable homes, 29 per cent would be for shared ownership.

The application will return to the committee at a future date where councillors will have another opportunity to approve or refuse the plans.