AN eleventh hour proposal may save a large swathe of Hertfordshire Green Belt land threatened by development. Final proposals for a housing development to the west of Luton will be presented to a

AN eleventh hour proposal may save a large swathe of Hertfordshire Green Belt land threatened by development. Final proposals for a housing development to the west of Luton will be presented to a Luton planning committee this week giving it an alternative to the current plan to build 5,500 new homes on land to the east of the town. Although the plans have been in development for over a year, a final plan will be presented to the Luton Borough Council and South Beds Council joint planning unit today (Thursday). Under the current proposals almost 1000 hectares, mostly in Hertfordshire countryside, is under threat if proposals to expand Luton across the county border go ahead. This is opposed by both North Herts District Council (NHDC) and Herts County Council. David Barnard, who is on NHDC's planning control committee, said: "The land value of the new area is much lower than in this beautiful area of North Herts and is in Bedfordshire which is far more appropriate for Luton. The developers will also provide a swimming pool and a new football ground for the town. It would be very, very valuable to the people of Luton. "There is a perception that the development to the east is the favoured option. We at North Herts are quite excited that this (the western proposal) will take the development out of North Herts and preserve an area of beauty enjoyed by many people. But if they do decide to go ahead with development to the east we will fight it tooth and nail." A decision on the preferred development option is expected on March 20.