The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has objected "in the strongest possible terms" to the inclusion of a meadow in St Albans City & District Council's draft Local Plan.
The plan would see 78 homes constructed at Bedmond Lane Meadow, an area of 5.84 hectares near King Harry Lane.
The meadow has been the subject of a number of planning applications in previous years, submitted by developers Cala Homes.
These planning applications have been "vigorously opposed" by residents.
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Last year, Timothy Beecroft, chairman of the Verulam Residents Association said: "This is a site of national importance archaeologically.
"Everybody knows about the Romans, but even before that there were people living here, on this site that is now under threat.
“And we also know that there are important and rare flowers on the site.
“If anywhere needs protecting, Bedmond Lane Field needs protecting."
St Albans City & District Council must find land for 15,000 new homes to constructed over the next 17 years, a requirement which has been challenged by the local authority's leader Cllr Chris White.
He told The Herts Advertiser: “I challenged this requirement in a letter to the Secretary of State, arguing the figure should be much lower.
“However, the Ministerial response was quite clear that the Government’s policy stood."
Bedmond Lane Meadow has been included in the council's draft Local Plan, as a site where some of these 15,000 new homes could be constructed.
Matt Dodds, planning and biodiversity manager at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) has now objected to the area's inclusion.
He wrote: "HMWT object in the strongest possible terms to the inclusion of M3 - Bedmond Lane, St Albans, AL3 4AH in the site allocations plan.
"It is totally in conflict with national planning policy, as set out in NPPF and the draft policies of the local plan, as set out in the regulation 18 consultation.
"To include this site would be to contradict the policies of the Local Plan and make a mockery of any environmental credentials the council profess to promote.
"The site itself is a species rich mosaic of habitats including species rich chalk grassland, species rich neutral grassland and scrub.
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"It easily qualifies as a local wildlife site and the only reason that it is not designated as such is because the landowner permission required to designate the site has not been given.
"It is a de-facto Local Wildlife Site and should be considered as such.
"St Albans City & District Council have been made aware of its value many times...
"...This site is also exactly the habitat and combination of habitats that will appear in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
"It is totally inappropriate to include these sites in site allocations."
All Local Plan documents and feedback questionnaires can be viewed at www.stalbans.gov.uk/new-local-plan
Comments on the draft Local Plan can also be made on the site.
Cllr Chris White added: "All comments are recorded and read and will be responded to as part of the journey to the next stage."
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