A nine-metre high sound barrier is being erected between a new housing development in Stevenage and the A1(M), upsetting residents who are calling it an "eyesore" and "monstrosity".

Stevenage Borough Council granted planning permission in September 2020 for Taylor Wimpey to build 133 homes on land west of the A1(M) and south of Stevenage Road in Todds Green.

A noise impact statement to support the planning application determined that a nine-metre high barrier on the eastern boundary with the A1(M) is required "to reduce noise levels from road traffic" and make the site "suitable for residential development".

Countryside charity CPRE Hertfordshire opposed the application, saying the barrier "will be visually poor and create a prison like enclosure", and that living conditions will be "highly compromised".

The council said "it is not uncommon for acoustic fences of this size and scale to be constructed along the boundary of residential developments in context with busy motorways and dual carriageways".

The barrier is now being installed and residents are up in arms over it. Katherine Bain said the "wall of doom" is "currently upsetting lots of residents, myself included". She called it a "monstrosity" and "eyesore", adding: "How it ever got planning permission is a mystery."

Another resident said "it looks like a prison wall", while a third called it "disgraceful".

A number of people have suggested an embankment of earth and a line of trees would absorb the noise and be more visually appealing, but Taylor Wimpey said "bunds [embankments] were not considered a feasible solution due to the presence of a gas main and associated easement along the development's eastern boundary". In any case, the developer said bunds "were determined as not being able to provide an effective noise barrier and the height required not being feasible".

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: “We are sorry to hear that local residents are unhappy with the erection of the acoustic barrier on the eastern boundary of our Franklin Park development.

“The acoustic barrier was agreed as part of the planning approval process with Stevenage Borough Council, and as the most suitable option for noise mitigation surrounding the development.”

A Stevenage Borough Council spokesperson said: “We have received several queries from residents regarding size and look of the acoustic fence being installed adjacent to the A1(M), near to Todds Green.

"As part of the residential development close to it, an acoustic fence was required to reduce traffic noise and meet relevant standards.

"The council’s planning team are in contact with Highways England, and will provide an update in due course.”