Update on the granting of planning permission for 118 homes on Bengeo Field
Following the granting of planning permission by East Herts District Council, the Save Bengeo Field Group took legal advice and determined that there were grounds to apply for a judicial review of the decision. Judicial review represents the only and last chance to be able to save the field from the proposed development.
There is a high bar to be granted judicial review, as there are very limited and defined circumstances upon which you can apply, and the issues need to be significant.
Save Bengeo Field Group have now applied for judicial review and are waiting to hear from the Planning Court whether they are happy to grant the review.
Save Bengeo Field Ltd has been established as a charitable company limited by guarantee to represent local campaigners and residents. In preparation to the judicial review, the company will be shortly opening its membership to its supporters.
Durkan will shortly commence some archaeological digging on the site, which is a condition of the planning. However, no house building can commence until the judicial review process has run its course.
Please look out for updates on the Love/Save Bengeo Field Facebook page
If you have any questions about the application please contact EHDC at; planning@eastherts.gov.uk.
Image by Paul Crowley
In 2018 East Herts District Council (EHDC) designated part of Bengeo Field as part of the HERT4 land for housing development.
DURKAN are now proposing to develop an additional 100 houses
The developer, Durkan, have already constructed 52 homes as The Stiles (previously Bengeo Nursery). DURKAN are now proposing to develop an additional 100 houses, which will spread across part of the Bengeo Field, along Sacombe Road from the Orchard and down the Wadesmill Road.
Hundreds of people worked hard to save Bengeo Field for future generations – you will recall residents successfully campaigned to stop the proposal to extract gravel and sand from the site.
In the event that extraction should not take place, East Herts Council has been consistently clear that only the first 50 dwellings on the Bengeo Nursery site would be delivered through the HERT4 allocation.
Linda Haysey, 2019 Leader of East Herts District Council
I totally agree and support your well laid out and structured objections to the build. I totally support the objection to spoiling a large part of Bengeo’s countryside future.
Councillor John Lynch MBE JP, Chair Community Services
Since the public enquiry, and the decision of the Planning Inspector and the Secretary of State, it now looks highly unlikely that any further applications to quarry this area will be made. It will be now up to EHDC to consider if the development of houses is permitted in this area.
