Plans to build 160 new sustainable homes in Croxley Green near Rickmansworth have been given the go-ahead.

Housebuilder The Hill Group has won its appeal to develop this previously allocated site adjacent to Killingdown Farm - a 7.5 hectare site on Little Green Lane - to create an attractive new neighbourhood extension to the village of Croxley Green. Work on site is anticipated to begin in July 2022.

Providing a wide range of homes from apartments to five-bedroom detached houses traditionally designed to blend in with the local architecture, the development will include green open spaces, a play area and footpaths. Sustainable drainage solutions will include swales and ecological enhancements, including the planting of over 170 trees, new hedgerows, bat and bird boxes and other measures to support local wildlife, representing a biodiversity net gain of 10%.

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Andy Hill, Group Chief Executive of Hill, commented: "We are delighted to have been granted consent to develop 160 high-quality new homes in Croxley Green, helping to address the acute shortage of homes in the area. We are committed to building an outstanding community of well-designed, energy-efficient new homes, incorporating sustainable technology such as air-source heat pumps, which help to reduce carbon emissions significantly. Our plans also include biodiversity enhancements such as extensive new planting and habitat creation, resulting in a 10% gain in biodiversity across the development."

In its report to uphold the appeal, government planning inspector Matthew Nunn stated: "In terms of public benefits, the scheme would secure a premium modern housing development for which there is a clear need, in a sustainable location. The proposal would provide much needed private and affordable housing for local people. A total of 160 dwellings are proposed, of which 72 would be affordable. Such provision would be a very weighty benefit for the area where increasing the supply of market and affordable homes is an urgent and pressing issue."