Proposed Redevelopment of Church in Berkhamsted

Neighbours of the proposed Kings Road church redevelopment in Berkhamsted are urging people of the town to review the planning application submitted to Dacorum Borough Council with concerns, amongst others, that the scale of the proposed building is out of proportion to the surrounding residential buildings in a designated conservation area, whilst demolishing a historical building.

Concerns raised by neighbours, including those which appear to contravene a large number of the council’s planning policies, for the proposed redevelopment include:

• Scale of the proposed building is out of proportion with surrounding residential buildings in a designated conservation area
• Demolishing an historical building built in 1874, in a conservation area
• Inadequate parking provision for 240 users with only three on-site disabled parking spaces
• No detailed travel plan of how users will arrive or depart from site and how this will be managed on the busy Kings Road
• No traffic management plan outlining process for guest drop off pick up on Kings Road, the main arterial road in and out of Berkhamsted
• Increased safety risk for pedestrians with additional vehicle movement
• No noise management plan submitted
• Loss of light and privacy for immediate neighbours
• Noise bleed into neighbours’ homes in a residential area
• No detail stipulating proposed operating hours or associated operations for a commercial building
• No construction management survey
• Minimal resident communication to date

You can view the planning application here.