Plans to demolish a bungalow to make way for four new homes in Smallford have been refused.

St Albans City & District Council's planning committee refused the application due to concerns over access and road safety. 

The plans would have seen three-bedroom homes created on the site of 610 Hatfield Road, behind the Shell petrol station.

A decision notice published on Wednesday, January 24, read: "The proposed development would see a significant intensification of use of the existing access, and it has not been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority that adequate sight lines can be accommodated to ensure essential road safety for vehicles and pedestrians.

"The council hereby refuse the development proposed by you in your application."

Herts Advertiser: An aerial view of 610 Hatfield Road, Smallford.An aerial view of 610 Hatfield Road, Smallford. (Image: Google Maps)

Twelve public comments and objections were made to the plans, with a resident of Hatfield Road writing: "Adding four new properties and 10 car parking spaces will create a huge disturbance as the proposed access is a private drive next to my flat.

"Depending on where the properties are, my property would also become overlooked which it is currently not."

A design and access statement included within the application read: "There would not be any loss of privacy or amenity for neighbours or for future occupiers.

Herts Advertiser: The land, which would have been used for the development.The land, which would have been used for the development. (Image: John Nicol / St Albans City & District Council)

"The proposed houses are two storeys plus loft space. 

"The houses complement the scale and mass of the adjoining existing two storey maisonettes to the west and the detached dormer bungalow to the south.

"The proposed houses face westwards and are of appropriate scale to the neighbouring properties."

Herts Advertiser: Existing elevations for 610 Hatfield Road, Smallford.Existing elevations for 610 Hatfield Road, Smallford. (Image: John Nicol / St Albans City & District Council)

Another objection, from a resident of Station Road, added: "I object to this proposal solely on the car parking.

"Looking at the proposed plans it would appear that part of the left hand side and the bottom of my garden would be surrounded by a car park of sorts, with car parking for nine vehicles.

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"It is currently surrounded by trees and bushes which are lovely.

"I feel having a car park at the bottom of my garden would be detrimental to my children’s health and the noise this would regularly bring would also be a nuisance."