Planning permission has been granted for access to a new development on Colesdale Farm in Northaw, which could see up to 44 new homes following the demolition of existing buildings.

Permission has already been granted for the development of 34 new homes on the Green Belt land, following a successful appeal by the applicant.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council initially refused the plans due to the potential harm to the Green Belt, however this was overturned by the planning inspectorate in 2022. 

At the latest planning meeting on June 27, councillors discussed the fresh application by Brosnan Developments Ltd, which seeks outline permission for up to 44 homes on the site - 15 of which would be affordable - with all matters reserved apart from access. 

The development would be served by a new vehicle access from Northaw Road West, with existing access retained for Colesdale Farm House.

The application was called in following a major objection from Northaw and Cuffley Parish Council, citing harm to the Green Belt, increased traffic, urbanisation of the country side and development of an unallocated site (in the Local Plan). 

The Highways authority raised no objections with regards to road safety. 

An excerpt from the summary of the lengthy objections by the parish council states: "The two proposals reviewed would represent windfall sites located in the London Metropolitan Green Belt.

"Welwyn Hatfield’s Local Plan was adopted nine months ago and it allocates sufficient land to meet local housing needs.

"Neither site is required to deliver the market homes and affordable housing required locally based on the submitted housing trajectory."

A Cuffley resident also spoke against the plans at the meeting.

She said: "We are already full and struggling with capacity in Northaw and Cuffley. We have a new development which is currently being built that hasn't taken into account the added problems in our infrastructure.

"The intersection where the site is is already actually very dangerous. It's so busy, it's such an awful intersection. To have more traffic going there and building work going there I think is utter madness."

Plans were approved, with nine councillors in favour and three against.