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ALFA
Allum Lane Fields Association

Fighting the plans to build
20 bungalows, 130 apartments, large central swimming pool & wellness centre and relocation of Schopwick Surgery
on Green Belt land


26th April 2024: New Plans Published 
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New deadline to object:

Thursday 23rd May 2024
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​Allum Lane Fields is Green Belt land. It must be preserved!

We do not want or need a high end Care Community in Elstree .
It is not a valid use of Green Belt land.

Join the fight to save our local green spaces:
1. Find out more about the plans and reasons to object on this website Click here
2. Put in your own personal comments / objections, including as many reasons as possible (as each reason has to be considered individually)
3. Ensure everyone over 18 in your household responds separately
4. Do it within the deadline of  23rd May 2024
5. Spread the word

How to comment / object:
1. Logging onto the website using this link

2. Emailing [email protected]
quoting the application no. 24/0442/FUL

3. Posting your comments to
The Planning and Economic Development Department,
Hertsmere Borough Council,
Civic Offices,
Elstree Way,
Borehamwood,
Herts WD6 1WA
quoting  the application no. 24/0442/FUL

Details of the New Plans

Details of the new plans can be found on the Hertsmere Borough Council Planning page click here 
The summary is:
Reference: 24/0442/FUL
Alternative Reference:  PP-12637280
Application Received:   Thu 28 Mar 2024
Application Validated:   Mon 22 Apr 2024
Address:   Land South Of Allum Lane Elstree Hertfordshire
Proposal:  Development of an Integrated Retirement Community (IRC) including the erection of a retirement living complex (comprising apartment, bungalows and an associated facilities building) a doctors surgery, hard and soft landscaping, sustainable drainage systems, highways works including a new access off Allum Lane, and all associated works.
Status   Awaiting decision

There are 159 documents associated with this application.

Relevant details and reasons to object will be supplied on this website
and via ALFA member emails. 
JOIN NOW (no charge) if you want to hear from ALFA.
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Please click here for more information about the Allum Lane Fields development
Please click here for Reasons to Object
Below this point is information regarding the old development plans and Draft Local Plan first published in 2018
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This is for information only. 

Update October 2022

ALFA remain in touch with local developments via the Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society.
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The Draft Local Plan was published on 11th October 2021. 
On 26th January 2022 it was announced that following 20,000 objections the plan is to be shelved!
Click here for more details.

The new Draft Local Plan is not expected until 2023. However, developers continue to submit planning applications. 
Click here for details of the progress of the New Local Plan.

Ross Whear (Head of Planning at HBC) was contacted in May 2022. He was not aware of any firther progress with the Schopwick Surgery planning application. 

Deadline for responding to the Draft Local Plan is Monday 6th December 2021
If you would like some guidance go to the Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt Society website page www.ebgreenbelt.org for a useful template that you can adapt to make your own case.
​Send your response to [email protected]

Draft Local Plan Update 16th November 2021 
On 16th November 2021 ALFA committee members Helen Stammers and Jeannie Hinds attended an on-line briefing session organised by Hertsmere Borough Council Planning Department regarding the Draft Local Plan.  
 Various representatives of local campaign groups were invited to attend.  From the Planning Department, the attendees included Ross Whear (Head of Planning), Mark Silverman, Rachel Marber, Oliver Galliford (who gave the presentation), Gail Anderson and Cath Shepherd.  Cllr Harvey Cohen (portfolio holder for planning) also attended.
 
In reply to specific questions ALFA put to the planners, they gave assurances that should Schopwick Surgery be given planning permission to relocate to site BE1, the rest of the land would remain in the Green Belt.  Also, that site BE1 is not in the Draft Local Plan for any housing development.

Hertsmere Borough Council published their draft Local Plan on 6th September 2021. The good news is there is currently no housing development planned for site BE1 (Allum Lane fields). Click here to read the press release. 
 
Our members received a newsletter on 10th September 2021 regarding this announcement. 
 
A full HBC Council meeting took place on 30th September 2021 where they agreed for the draft plan to go out for Regulation 18 Engagement (the plan will not be formally adopted until next year). Regulation 18 allows for a 6-week Engagement period where organisations and members of the public can submit any representation they wish to make on the plan.
 
We will closely monitor any planning applications made by Schopwick surgery on site BE1 to ensure it is kept to acceptable parameters, has minimum impact to the surroundings, with adequate boundaries and distinction from the rest of the green belt fields.
Click here for further details of the Schopwick relocation plans.

ALFA will remain active should an appeal be made by developers / land owners
or there are issues with the Schopwick Surgery relocation. 

Join ALFA free of charge:
Go to the Join Us page
E-mail [email protected]
​Click here for the ALFA Facebook page
ALFA (Allum Lane Fields Association) was created by three local residents in October 2018 in response to site BE1, with access via The Rise, being put forward as a potential housing development. In July 2019 two further sites were offered up by the land owners for development, one adjoining BE1  and one on the opposite side of Allum Lane.

In summary the sites for potential development are:
Off Allum Lane - 14.54 hectares, potentially 300+ houses, care home, doctors surgery and cemetery extension.
Golf Club - 75.00 hectares, potentially 830 houses

Click here for the latest report from Hertfordshire Borough Council December 2020.

Click here for our Latest News relating to the development 
Click here for the information we sent out in 2019 ALFA Call to Action July 2019
​Click here for the information we sent out in 2018 ALFA Call to Action November 2018

ALFA are working to retain this important local Green Belt land and avoid overdevelopment of Elstree and Borehamwood, an area that has already seen more than its fair share of additional housing in recent years.
Green Belt land is critical to our physical and mental health and wellbeing, proven during the Covid-19 lockdown.
It will continue to be important to local people who wish to spend time exercising in green spaces accessible from their homes, to enjoy fresh air, open space and the wildlife that flourishes in Elstree.

However,
We need to be ready to protest against these developments if they are included in the Local Plan 2021 in the 6 week window for public engagement. The plan is anticipated in early September  2021.
If you join us, ALFA will keep you informed of developments and the work we are doing on behalf of members. Through ALFA, members can and do share their invaluable views, opinions, knowledge and expertise.
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 We must work together - this is a team effort.
​To join ALFA, email [email protected] or go to our Join Us page