Developers, who want to build 12 houses in place of one at The Pines, in North Road, were dealt a blow after Andrew Williams, Leader of Dacorum Borough Council, acted to extend the Conservation Area to include North Road.

A public enquiry has already been held into the plan for the infill homes and the result is expected soon.

Cllr Williams' move, which will be presented at a full borough council meeting tonight (July 9), makes it more difficult for the builders as the whole site has now become part of the conservation zone.

Campaigners in Berkhamsted have been fighting against garden infill developments and have been supported by both the town and borough council.

One resident against the plans is Dr Laurence Handy, who lives on North Road.

He explained: "We do consider it (The Pines) to make a significant contribution to the Conversation Area. The residents of North Road are highly supportive of the decision to include the whole site."

Since the zone was changed the developers, Chipperfield Land Company, have submitted a new plan to knock the house down.

The agent acting of behalf of the company , Andrew King, did not wish to comment, but in the newly submitted plans it is argued:

"As The Pines is not of any architectural or historical merit in its own right, no grounds exist for arguing it should be preserved by bringing it into the Conservation Area which abuts its site but with which it has no architectural, historical or landscape relationship."

The latest application seeks permission to demolish the house but does not include a request to build homes.
Berkhamsted Town Council has already objected to the new proposal and Dacorum will make its decision later this month.