A LONG-RUNNING battle to protect a strip of Green Belt has reared its head again, after a developer re-confirmed its intention to build 1,000 homes there.

Bloor Homes, which has announced plans before, has again said it wishes to build private houses on North Herts land, to the east of Luton.

Although a planning application has not been submitted, the developer is holding a public consultation next month to exhibit and brief on its plans.

District and county councillor David Barnard, who has campaigned against development on the Green Belt, said: “It’s the dripping tap syndrome – they (developers) keep on putting different applications in here and there then go quiet, then come back again.

“We need to make sure we are vigilant to protect our villages and countryside.”

There are claims that building on the land, which sits between Tea Green and Cockernhoe, would impact on the nearby villages, including Lilley and Offley, and put too much pressure on infrastructure.

There are also fears it will place a burden on local schools.

“There are far better sites to satisfy Luton’s housing needs,” added Cllr Barnard.

“This is an ill-conceived proposal, designed to produce maximum profit to landowners and developers, with no benefit to the locality, and no sustainable reason can be honestly put forward to justify the destruction of our beautiful countryside.

“This proposal would see our local villages being swallowed up by Luton.”

Bloor will hold the exhibition on Tuesday, June 4, at Cockernhoe Memorial Hall from 2pm.

In a letter informing of the consultation, it said: “Bloor Homes is committed to effective and meaningful community engagement regarding the proposals and a new round of pre-application consultation is being carried out ahead of the submission of a planning application to North Herts District Council.

“The consultancy will give local communities an opportunity to view the plans and share their feedback.”