Council says plans for Watford homes would ‘put more pressure on schools and create more traffic’

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A controversial planning application by the sustainability body BRE to build housing on its headquarters site near Watford has been rejected for a “lack of sustainability”.

BRE has been trying to build homes on its Bricket Wood site near Watford for over a decade. It had an application for development turned down by the secretary of state in 2001 amid concerns over transportation, and withdrew another application in July last year for similar reasons.

Last month, the latest application, which was for up to 100 homes, angered a local residents’ association, which was unhappy with BRE’s plans for transport to the site, including a new bus service, which it argued could not be sustained.

It was also unhappy about plans to cut down some of the trees on the site. Planning officers at St Albans council had recommended that the plans be approved, on the condition that BRE contribute nearly £1m in section 106 payments towards education, transport and community facilities. But last Thursday, six of the eight councillors on the St Albans planning committee voted against the plans and two abstained.

Geoff Turner, chair of the planning committee, said there was a “lack of sustainability” in the plans. He said: “The committee thought that the site didn’t perform well against sustainability criteria. It would put a lot more pressure on schools and create more traffic.”

He added that despite the planning report running to over 100 pages there was not enough detail on how the development would meet the council’s sustainability aims.

A BRE spokesman said the planning committee had not questioned the sustainability of the scheme but rather the site’s location. He said the council’s officers had recommended the application be approved.

“It was a surprise when committee members rejected that advice and refused the application,” he said.

He said BRE would now look closely at the reasons given for the refusal before making a decision on their next steps.

Eco-city in China seeks firms

BRE is seeking UK building firms to contribute innovative products and services for a £20m development at the heart of a £6bn Chinese eco-city. The body is working with developer Franshion Properties to help bring UK green expertise to the Chinese building sector.

The developer is seeking firms to exhibit in the Living Lattice exhibition centre designed by architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, in Meixi Lake eco-city.

Jaya Skandamoorthy, director at BRE, said: “This is a significant opportunity for businesses to promote their innovation and expertise to a massive and highly influential developer and wider audience in China.”