Proposed homes look like '˜army barracks'

More than 40 members of the public attended the Tring Town Council meeting on Monday night, where the controversial planning application for 37 homes on the former Francis House Preparatory School site was discussed.

Residents from nearby streets including Longfield Road, Cherry Gardens and Abstacle Hill all expressed concern over loss of light, privacy and mature trees as well as the height of the homes and the consequential parking congestion.

Councillor Nick Hollinghurst said: “I don’t believe anyone is opposed to development on the site, but we are disappointed at the density and the way the houses are set out like army barracks.

“It can and should be a high quality development in what it was before the school was built – an attractive woodland glen.”

Many residents are concerned over the height of the buildings – some of which will be three storeys high – proposed by developer Mountleigh Development Holdings Ltd.

Longfield Road resident Jack Costin, whose home backs on the the proposed site, said: “The biggest issue is the visual intrusion, and the fact that these 10-metre-high homes will be overlooking peoples’ gardens.

“The developers have just totally ignored the planning advice by making them three storeys high – they don’t fit in with the street scene.”

The application will go before Dacorum Borough Council’s development control committee with a recommendation for refusal.

Although no date has been set, the target decision date is down as April 7.