CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a housing development in a countryside village have been refused.

An application had been submitted to build eight affordable homes in Holwell Turn, Pirton, even though a similar application had previously been refused by North Herts District Council (NHDC).

And councillors once again said that they had concerns about such a development at last Thursday’s planning committee. They went on to refuse planning permission.

More than 100 people had said they were against the plans in a consultation, as did the parish council.

Cllr Tom Brindley, NHDC’s portfolio holder for planning and enterprise, said: “Councillors decided that although some of the issues relating to the access had been addressed, there were still outstanding concerns about highway safety, the proposed development being situated on rural land at the edge of the village, and the visual impact that it would have on the surrounding area.

“Although affordable social housing is a priority in the area to meet housing needs and the applicants have entered into a Section 106 agreement to ensure the housing would be retained as affordable, a specific registered social landlord has not to date been identified and this also contributed to the concerns of the committee in refusing the application.”