Government has signed off plans to bulldoze green belt land in St Albans, despite experts’ concerns.

Councillors voted last month to permit 150 new homes on 13 acres of protected land off of Harpenden Road.

But campaigners claim the council ignored objections from environmental experts – and they say housing minister Robert Jenrick has now ignored them as well.

Mr Jenrick had the power to block the development, but his underlings considered the case on his behalf and rubber-stamped it.

Objectors had lobbied Mr Jenrick to veto the application on environmental grounds.

But his officials said they did not consider the environmental issues, as that had been the council’s job.

Campaigners are now considering a judicial review.

The group, called CLASH (Campaign by Locals Against Sewell Housing), has fought repeated attempts to develop the land.

Reference:
https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/housing/robert-jenrick-approves-st-albans-green-belt-development-8246984