An application to grant outline planning permission for 14 new homes has been recommended for approval by planning officers, despite objections from residents.

Warden Developments Limited has submitted plans to North Herts District Council to build the homes on land off Sycamore Close, Hitchin.

The application is for eight detached houses and six semi-detached houses. The developer is also seeking to create a vehicular and pedestrian access from Sycamore Close.

The plans have been met with opposition with residents raising concerns about extra cars in the cul-de-sac and the safety of children playing in the road.

A report, prepared by North Herts District Council ahead of the planning control committee due to be held next week, said the “development would render the area unsafe for children’s play, the road is not designed for the extra traffic and there will be safety risk, access would be on a corner with poor visibility and residents of the development would be required to drive through the whole estate to exit the site”.

Other issues expressed by residents were concerns over flooding, further housing would diminish countryside and that there would be more noise and disturbance.

The report also said that the district council “has received a letter from the occupier of The Paddock and the owner of Turfmead and Lynbro, which includes the majority of the application site. The owner states that he has not given permission for anyone to access his land from Sycamore Close and that he does not wish to use that access.”

A response from Hertfordshire Highways on the plans recommends refusal of planning permission due to inadequate access geometry which would be prejudicial to highways safety and insufficient space within the site for large vehicles to enter and leave the site.

The application will be discussed at next Thursday’s meeting.