A public inquiry is underway that is set to decide the fate of controversial plans that would see nearly 100 homes built on Green Belt land in Park Street.

In January, planning officers at St Albans City and District Council (SADC) voted to reject proposals for 95 new homes west of Watling Street.

First submitted in 2022 by estate agents Scott Properties, the application sought to offer a range of affordable housing that developers argue is needed across the district.

But councillors ruled that the benefit of these new homes would not outweigh the harm done to the Green Belt, of which the land is a part of.

In May, Scott Properties lodged an appeal and the saga appears set to culminate with a public inquiry which started on September 10 and could last for up to two weeks.

At the end of June, councillors met in private and took the unusual step of agreeing not to mount a defence of the plans at appeal - a decision which has been greeted with anger by campaigners.

SADC declined to comment on the inquiry while it is ongoing.

Paul King, on behalf of Greenbelt, the campaign group that has been opposing the proposal since the application was first submitted, said: “I am staggered that the council can do this.

"While the council rejected this application, for very good reasons, they will now merely be an observer. It’s an absolute disgrace that they have chosen to let the community and their own councillors down in this way."

Greenbelt has accused the council of 'capitulating' and say they will now fight the case themselves on behalf of the community.

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Cllr Nuala Webb (Liberal Democrat, Park Street) is among the individual councillors supporting Greenbelt in its fight.

She said: “I still strongly believe that this is a poor proposal and most definitely in the wrong place. 

"This is beautiful open farmland that serves its Green Belt purpose, building on it will open the flood gates to other applications in the Green Belt around the district."

In a document setting out their case, Scott Properties say that an appeal is necessary due to the public interest in the case, the complexity of the issue and their desire to call eight witnesses to defend the proposal.

They write that "the appellant does not know the reason the council's reason for refusal given the application was recommended for approval and then rejected by members."

The inquiry is being livestreamed and can be viewed at https://stalbans.public-i.tv/core/portal/home, with proceedings getting under way from 10am each day.