Council rejects Marshcroft
Victoria Collins, MP for Harpenden & Berkhamsted, has welcomed the decision by Dacorum Borough Council to reject the controversial Marshcroft development, despite knowing that developers could still win on appeal.
The council voted on Thursday evening to refuse the 1,400-home scheme, which would have had a massive impact on Tring and the surrounding Chilterns landscape. The development faced fierce opposition from local residents concerned about the strain on already overstretched infrastructure, increased traffic congestion, and the loss of cherished green spaces on the edge of a nationally protected landscape.
Dacorum councillors rejected the application, while some voted in favour, recognising the top-down planning system, and the developer’s right to appeal.
The decision follows years of tireless campaigning by residents and politicians.
When the Conservative-run council included Marshcroft in their Draft Local Plan in 2020, Lib Dem councillors represented residents’ concerns at the public enquiry, recommended refusal of the initial application via the Tring Town Council, and successfully had the application refused by Dacorum planners. After winning control of Dacorum Borough Council in May 2023, Liberal Democrats delivered on their commitment to rewrite the Local Plan as a priority.
Victoria Collins MP said: ‘This is a huge victory for Tring residents who have fought tirelessly against a development that will have a massive impact on the town and the beautiful Chilterns landscape.
‘The reality is that developers can still appeal because Labour’s top-down planning system lets Whitehall override local voices, and the Conservatives left us without the local plan protection we need. Communities like Tring are being hammered by a system that lets speculative applications go ahead without the firm guarantee that infrastructure to support them will be built first.
‘And the next battle is already looming. Labour’s even higher top-down housing targets will pile even more pressure on communities without fixing the broken system. I’ll keep fighting this in Parliament, pushing for proper local plan protection, infrastructure-first development, and real power for communities over Whitehall bureaucrats. Tring deserves better than this planning roulette, and I won’t stop until the system is fixed.’
Cllr Sally Symington said: ‘Last night’s vote to object to the Marshcroft application was a great result for the residents of Tring who have fought this development for so long. As a local councillor, I have campaigned against this development and voted against including this site in the Local Plan.
‘But we should be clear about how we got here, and why this fight is not over. The Conservatives included this site in their Draft Local Plan back in 2020. Liberal Democrats opposed it then, and we removed it when we took control of the council. We contested the housing targets and delivered a new Local Plan in record time to protect our Green Belt. Then Labour came in, increased Dacorum’s housing target by nearly 40%, and their ‘Build, Build, Build’ agenda has given developers a green light.
‘Local Liberal Democrat councillors and I will not stop fighting for Tring. This decision tonight is not the end of the road, and I will continue to represent residents’ interests and campaign for the best possible outcome.’