Oliver again visited the site on Shenley Hill where Fairfax Acquisitions propose to erect 195 homes on the land south of Shenley Hill, in Radlett.

In February, the application was brought to the then Conservative led Council and was unanimously rejected. The Council’s decision to refuse the application has now, though, been appealed by the developers. (Planning appeal reference: APP/N1920/W/23/3320599).

Many residents are now raising deep concerns over the traffic that this development could potentially generate. The Planning Inspector is due to visit the site, in line with the appeals process, in August.

Oliver said: I am deeply concerned that the Planning Inspector is due to visit the site in August, when the schools are closed and many residents are on their summer holidays, meaning the roads have significantly lower levels of traffic. It was only at the end of July when I visited the site and saw first-hand that this was not Shenley Hill as we know it.

Oliver added: I have therefore written to the Planning Inspector to consider rescheduling the site visit when residents and schools return, and an accurate representation of traffic levels could be witnessed. This is vital in order to fully assess the impact that this development could have on Shenley Hill and the surrounding roads.’

The public inquiry looking at this decision will commence on Tuesday 22 August 2023 at 10am at the Civic Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 1WA. The inquiry will run from 22-25 August and 30-31 August (all days starting at 10am).