Angle appeal success in Kings Langley
Angle Property on behalf of the Residential Land Partnership, a joint venture between Schroders and Fiera Real Estate, is pleased to announce it has secured detailed planning consent for a new residential scheme of 135 new homes, community buildings and public open space at Rectory Farm in Kings Langley.
The greenfield greenbelt site comprises the remaining 6.5ha of land at Rectory Farm and planning was submitted in 2022 in partnership with Cala Homes to provide a comprehensive development and extension to the previously consented scheme for 55 new homes (completed by Miller Homes). The scheme includes 40% affordable housing, new community buildings and 2.56 ha of open space, community allotments & orchard. The community facilities are to be managed by Sunnyside Rural Trust, a local charity helping young adults with learning difficulties.
After over a year of further engagement with Dacorum Borough Council, the scheme was refused under delegated authority in October 2023 and Angle submitted an appeal in November 2023. The public inquiry was held in early April 2024.
Prior to the inquiry, Dacorum Borough Council accepted that Very Special Circumstances (principally housing need and community benefits) existed to outweigh the limited harm to the greenbelt and this principle was supported by the Inspector, Mr D M Young. Consequently, the only reason for refusal related to the provision of SANG (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace) mitigation and the Inspector agreed with Angle that a Grampian condition would be appropriate with three possible SANG mitigation sites being identified, including two strategic sites controlled by Dacorum Borough Council.
Angle will now work with Cala Homes and Dacorum Borough Council to bring this sustainable development forward in the short term to help Dacorum Borough Council deliver much needed housing.
Angle Property and Cala Homes were advised by Montagu Evans
James Good, director of Angle Property said:
“We are very pleased to have secured a positive outcome to this appeal and it is reassuring to have our convictions supported by the independent planning inspectorate. This planning consent will deliver a high quality sustainable development on a poor quality greenbelt site. It is an obvious infill opportunity in the settlement and we have worked hard with Cala Homes and stakeholders to ensure the development will deliver substantial benefits to the local community and much needed homes, including 54 affordable homes, together with publicly accessible landscaped open space and community facilities. A big thank you to our team including Montagu Evans and Landmark Chambers”
Edward Ledwidge, Partner at Montagu Evans said:
“This is an important decision relating to a site that was due to be released from the Green Belt to meet Dacorum’s acute housing land supply shortfall, before a change in administration reversed the Council’s strategy, leaving our clients with the only option to seek planning permission via appeal”.