Land near to a residential estate and a school is being sold off for housing.

North Hertfordshire District Council has agreed to sell an area of land at Yeomanry Drive, Baldock, to an established housing developer.

The proposed area for development is approximately 1.8 acres of grassland situated between the Downlands and Sale Drive residential estates and behind the Hartsfield Junior Mixed and Infant School.

The decision to sell the land, owned by the council, was made at full council last week, with an as yet unnamed housing developer currently in contract negotiations.

Once agreed, a planning application will be submitted and discussed.

Lynda Needham, leader of North Herts District Council, said: “The sale of the land will enable much needed new housing to be built in the district, in line with the council’s priority of promoting sustainable growth.”

Patricia Holmes, 70, who lives nearby, said: “I think it would be a great loss to the area. It is a great, big open space so I think it would be a shame for it to be taken over. There are a lot of people, like me, who enjoy walking their dogs through the area. I don’t think it would affect children as much because they don’t seem to play in this green area. But you want open spaces, and you don’t want to feel crammed in all the time. It’s nice to have somewhere that breaks up all the estates.”

Tom Edwards, 38, of Yeomanry Drive, said: “I think most people around here would be against the idea of a load of new houses cropping up. I know the government need places for first-time buyers to live, but you’d prefer for it not to be on your doorstep.”

Samuel Booth, 52, said: “It would have been nice to see the area used for something other than housing but I’m not surprised.”