Anne Main MP has welcomed the inclusion of the Radlett Airfield site as part of the sites being taken forward by St Albans District Council’s (SADC) draft Local Plan.

SADC has included the site in the 12 sites to be taken forward to be considered by the council’s planning policy committee. The council will now work towards satisfying all the legal requirements needed to justify this land as a viable site for development.

In what is seen as a glimmer of hope for campaigners for housing on the Radlett site, rather than the highly contentious proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI), Mrs Main said, ‘I have always said this is a wholly inappropriate site for a rail freight interchange. The need for housing in the district is obvious and we need to make those tough decisions.

‘I am extremely pleased that this site will be considered for housing.’

Mrs Main has encouraged land owners, Hertfordshire County Council, to consider the needs of the district when deciding for what purpose they sell their land, the St Albans MP said, “I know there are still many hurdles to jump through but the county council must consider the needs of the district when they consider selling the land – clearly housing takes priority over an outdated and potentially unworkable rail freight terminal that will put huge pressures on our roads and rail.

‘The potential misery that a rail freight site could have on passenger services does not bear thinking about. The district needs housing and the infrastructure improvements that will come with that.’