A parish council has asked the Prime Minister to intervene to halt a proposed housing development on former Green Belt land known as East of Luton.

The proposal for the East of Luton site - as allocated in the adopted North Hertfordshire Local Plan - would see a new North Herts community around Cockernhoe, Mangrove Green and Tea Green.

The plans could eventually deliver up to 2,100 new homes - of which 40% would be affordable - as well as three new schools, sports facilities, parkland and a network of public green spaces.

A consultation to help shape the development of the strategic masterplan was held by developers Bloor Homes and The Crown Estate earlier this year.

Now, in what it has called a "David and Goliath housing fight", Offley Parish Council has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak asking him to order North Herts Council to halt any development East of Luton "until a thorough analysis of housing needs can take place".

The parish council insists that "the need for the proposed housing does not exist", but that "irrefutable evidence" has "fallen on deaf ears, as both [North Herts Council and Luton Borough Council] stubbornly stick to Luton’s outdated housing figures".

The parish council also wants Mr Sunak to "rule that there has been no exceptional circumstance to justify the release of Green Belt land at East of Luton".

In the letter to the PM, Offley Parish Council explains that the hamlets of Cockernhoe, Mangrove and Tea Green have no more than 200 houses and a population of around 500. 

"They are in grave danger of being swamped by this proposed development, which increases the housing in the immediate area by around 950%," the letter warns.

A spokesperson for North Herts Council said: "The planning system means that neighbouring councils need to cooperate and support each other with housing needs.

"The proposed development East of Luton forms part of the council’s Local Plan. This was adopted by the council in November 2022, following examination by a government-appointed inspector.

"The examination looked at this issue in a lot of detail – with the inspector considering all the written representations from residents and other parties, as well as hearing from those who attended the examination days.

"The inspector concluded that providing homes to help address Luton’s unmet housing needs was justified.

"North Herts is providing land for 1,950 homes for Luton’s unmet housing needs. Central Beds is providing 7,350 homes.

"Forty per cent of the housing in the East of Luton development is expected to be affordable housing, and will result in the creation of much-needed affordable homes for people from both North Herts and Luton.

"In January 2024, the council agreed in principle to review and update its Local Plan. However, the current Local Plan will remain the adopted plan until any replacement is prepared, examined and adopted. 

"The council has no specific powers to place any planning applications on hold. Any applications must be considered and determined in line with the relevant legal requirements."

You can visit eastofluton.co.uk to view the plans.