Help protect our green belt
We’re asking residents to oppose two developments that will destroy the green belt on Oxhey Lane
Developers have submitted large-scale planning applications to build on two separate pieces of beautiful green belt land, directly next to Oxhey Lane.
These developments will permanently remove green belt land, damage biodiversity, destroy wildlife habitats, and effectively merge the area between Oxhey Village and neighbouring areas into one larger town. That’s why we need as many residents as possible to object to the proposals.
To object to the plan, visit the Three Rivers planning portal, search for the reference numbers below, and submit separate objections to both applications.
The official deadline is 25 July 2025. However, all objections submitted before the planning decision in early September will still be considered. We would encourage you to object as soon as possible, ideally by the end of July.
Where are the developments?
Why should you object to the developments?
Site 1 (application number 25/1055/FUL)
An application submitted by gs8 developers to build 96 houses and a community space behind the Christmas tree farm.
The strongest argument against this application is that the development would breach two of the five key purposes of green belt (set out in the National Planning Policy Framework). These are:
(a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
(b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another
Building on these green spaces between Oxhey Village and Carpenders Park would encourage both the unrestricted sprawl and would effectively merge them into one larger town.
Site 2 (application number 25/1020/OUT)
An application submitted by Burlington Developments London to build 256 houses and a home for looked-after children.
The strongest argument against this application is that the development would breach up to three key purposes of green belt (as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework). These are:
(a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas
(b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one
(c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment
You can also outline how the open space benefits the health and wellbeing of local people. You can explain how you use the open space. This might be spending time in nature and taking in the views, walking your dog, staying fit, or enriching your time with family.
The destruction caused by the development will also impact the environment, including:
- the loss of lots of young oak trees growing in the fields
- the loss of hedgerows and wildlife habitats
- more limited access to open countryside (which is different from other green spaces nearby like Oxhey Park or Oxhey Green)
- loss of the view across the treeline, especially across to Carpenders Park.
Tips for an effective objection
To be successful, we need to give Three Rivers planners and councillors strong planning reasons to turn down the application.
Use your own words as this has much more impact than lots of identical objections. Your objection doesn’t need to be long, just enough to show the negative effect it will have on you if the development were to go ahead.
Do not use the following reasons for objecting. This is because, under planning law, the council cannot accept them as a reason for refusing an application, so you will be wasting your time:
- Additional traffic/road safety issues (these are only considered when the county council highways department flags a problem
- We don’t want more houses/we have enough houses in the area already
- There isn’t sufficient infrastructure to cope with more houses (i.e. utilities, schools, GP surgeries
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