EXCLUSIVEThis wont be a market town anymore - it will be gridlock: Furious residents slam deceitful council for announcing plans to build 2,050 homes... when they promised theyd only build 250
Residents living in an idyllic market down have accused their council of eroding trust after they U-turned on a controversial plan to build more than 2,000 homes on green belt land at the 11th hour.
Residents living in an idyllic market down have accused their council of eroding trust after they U-turned on a controversial plan to build more than 2,000 homes on green belt land at the 11th hour.
The threat of overdevelopment has sparked anger in the small town of Tring, with residents furious that they would be bearing the brunt of an influx of houses in Dacorum, Hertfordshire.
Controversial Conservative plans to build 2,050 homes were axed by the Liberal Democrats when they took over Dacorum Borough Council in May 2023 and promised to only build 250 instead.
But locals were stunned to find out this month that the council have secretly U-turned and revived plans to rush through 2,050 homes on The Marshield and New Mill sites.
They also highlighted how Dacorum Council wasted taxpayer money by spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on funding planning barristers to successfully block a developer from building on the site in March this year.
Pictured: Tring, where plans are in place to reintroduce the Marshcroft development on Green Belt land
James Stewart, 60, said he doubted anyone who lives in Tring would be in favour of the massive development
Resident Glenda Cooper (pictured) said: There is a lot of opposition to the plan for so many homes
An aerial view of the proposed site of the reintroduced Marshcroft development on Green Belt land in Tring
The Dacorum Local Plan 2023 shows that plans to build homes on the Marshfield and New Mill site (red) had been axed. They are now being rushed through
Campaigners say Tring would no longer be a market town because it would grow by 40 per cent - something they say is being fuelled by Labours war on green belts.
Graham Bright, the leader of the Grove Fields Residents Association, told MailOnline: There is complete bewilderment from residents… this wont be a market town anymore. It will just become gridlocked.
He added: How could they have been voted in on the ticket that they are not doing this and then try to rush through something completely different?
It just erodes trust. Thats the biggest thing from residents at the moment. As if the view of politicians wasnt low enough in terms of being able to trust them. Its a complete lack of trust in the politicians if this goes through.
Resident Vernon Lace, 55, told MailOnline: It will just ruin the town and make it unrecognisable from why so many of us moved here.
Ive been here over 50 years and when I arrived it was a small town. Of course it has grown, but to have 2,000 homes does not make sense as it will double the size of Tring. There will not be enough school places and same for doctors and dentists. It is just too much.
A shopping street in Tring where residents have opposed plans for 2,050 new homes
Mother and daughter Fran and Fiona McKillop (pictured) are horrified by the prospect of 2,000 homes
An aerial view of the site where plans are in place to introduce 2,050 new homes
Planning officers are trying to convince councillors to agree to build more houses because the targets will be formally increased under the Labour government.
A Dacorum Cabinet meeting is due to take place tonight - where the vote is likely to be a close one.
Residents fear that there will be a huge impact on congestion because the houses are being built on land where you would need to drive into the High Street.
They also say they are struggling to get appointments at their GPS, while the school is already full.
Resident Glenda Cooper said: There is a lot of opposition to the plan for so many homes.
It is not that we are being NIMBYs, but 2,000 is just too many and it will change the whole complexion of the town. There is no reason a smaller number of homes could not be built.
Mother and daughter Fran and Fiona McKillop are horrified by the prospect of 2,000 homes.
Fiona, 33, only moved to Tring a few weeks ago from Hemel Hempstead having been attracted by the quiet streets and charm of the town.
Resident Vernon Lace, 55, told MailOnline: It will just ruin the town and make it unrecognisable from why so many of us moved here
American tourist Jan Furr was visiting friends in Tring from South Carolina and said he was horrified by the plans
She said: I just think having so many homes will change the place. I moved here because it was so quiet.
Her 61-year-old mum added: We just do not want so many homes.
American tourist Jan Furr was visiting friends in Tring from South Carolina and said he was horrified by the plans.
One of the pleasures of coming here and to England is that the green belt is preserved and there are no buildings on it. It is so nice to be here and to see so much open green land. That will be spoilt, and I really hope the council turn down the developers.
James Stewart, 60, said he doubted anyone who lives in Tring would be in favour of the massive development.
The whole charm of Tring is that it is a quiet market town. That will all change if thousands of new people arrive. I cant see what it will add to the town.
Everyone knows that there is a housing shortage, but the 2,000 homes is just to much.
The Zoological Museum (pictured) in the tranquil town of Tring
Local resident Barbara, who declined to give her surname, said: It will change the way the town looks and feels
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: I have written to my councillor protesting at this plan but I really do not know if it will do any good.
We have a Labour Government now who have set targets for homes and they have to be met. It will ruin Tring, but I dont think they will really care.
Homes in the area sell cost on average £650,000, according to a local estate agent.
Even though the development will be good for business he doubts others in the town see it that way.
Most the shops are independent with the only chain on the High Street a Costa Coffee shop and a M&S food store. Others such as a card shop, ironmongers and restaurant are all independent.
Unlike many towns it is not blighted by several barber shops, with just one on the High Street.
Local resident Barbara, who declined to give her surname, said: It will change the way the town looks and feels.
I moved here to be close to my daughter from Solihull and I hope that the plan does not get approved. It is beautiful here but with so many new homes it will be spoilt.
Mr Bright explained that the proposed sites lead directly onto the AONB, adding: Its not like a bit of scrubland on the edge of the town.
Local resident Barbara said she moved to Tring to be closer to her daughter, but with so many new homes it will be spoilt she said
Mr Bright explained that the proposed sites lead directly onto the AONB, adding: Its not like a bit of scrubland on the edge of the town
Its farmed land with wild animals roaming in it. Theres deer and foxes. And its a wildlife corridor between the reservoirs and the woods so it serves lots of purposes.
The U-turn also comes after Dacorum Borough Council blocked a developer from building 1,400 homes on the green belt land, which ended up reaching the High Court earlier this year.
Mr Bright explained: Theres a developer called Redrow and they actually put a speculative planning application in about a year and a half ago to build on this land and Dacorum rejected it.
Dacorum and ourselves funded planning barristers to fight the developer and that appeal went to the Secretary of State, Michael Cove at the time, and he rejected it.
Then Redrow appealed it, and it went to the High Court and the High Court rejected it.
So Dacorum have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds fighting not to build on this land and that process only finished a few months ago. And thats why we just cant understand the U-turn.
Theyve spent hundreds of thousands of pounds, saying, You cant possibly build on this and then overnight, they have said Oh, hang on a minute, weve changed our mind.
He added: Its a complete waste of taxpayers money.
Last month, Dacorum Borough Council lost eight female councillors after they quit over accusations that the councils leader failed to deal with allegations of bullying and sexual harrassment.
The Lib Dems have now lost their majority on the council, which covers Berkhamsted, Tring and Hemel Hempstead. It now has 18 Lib Dems, 17 Tories, 10 independents and four Labour members.
The proposed development comes after Angela Rayner unveiled an overhaul of Englands planning rules to help deliver Labours promise of 1.5million homes by 2029.
The Deputy PM also outlined plans to make it easier to build on low-quality green belt land which she described as grey belt.
Under the plans, local councils must incorporate government housing targets into their long-term development plans.
A spokesperson for Dacorum Borough Council said: The new Regulation 19 Local Plan for Dacorum was approved by Cabinet on 14 October 2024.
This will now proceed to Full Council on 15 October 2024, and if approved, will confirm arrangements for a six-week public consultation, followed by the submission of the Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
