Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has secured approval to grant planning permission to build 150 new homes in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire. Dacorum Borough Council has passed a resolution to grant outline planning approval for the creation of a new neighbourhood on the edge of the village, located between Kings Langley Secondary School and the A41.
The approved plans set out a landscape-led vision for the area, with a wide mix of homes ranging from one to five bedrooms, half of which will be affordable housing. This variety will provide opportunities for people at every stage of life, from first-time buyers and growing families to downsizers and older residents, helping to meet the housing needs of the local community.
The site, located on land north of Chipperfield Road, has been classified as ‘Grey Belt’ by planning officers, recognising that while it lies within the Green Belt, it does not strongly contribute to its overall purposes.
Designed to foster a strong connection with the natural environment, the development will feature extensive green and community spaces. These include woodland walks, pastoral meadows, and ponds that will provide wetland habitats, contributing to an overall biodiversity net gain of at least 10 percent. Children’s play areas and a community orchard will encourage outdoor activity, while new walking and cycling routes lined with edible hedges will promote healthy and active lifestyles. Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained wherever possible, creating a green setting that supports both people and wildlife.
At the heart of the development will be The Farmstead, a new education and community hub that will serve as a valuable shared asset for both the school and wider community. Kings Langley Secondary School will be running activities at the Farmstead, with Sunnyside Rural Trust, a local charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, providing support as plans continue to develop.
Facilities at the Farmstead will include growing spaces, therapy and sensory gardens, and animal-assisted activities to support health and wellbeing. A café and farm shop are also planned, providing training and employment opportunities for students and Sunnyside Rural Trust participants alike. The Farmstead Garden, co-created with the school and Sunnyside, will embed hands-on learning within the curriculum and through extracurricular activities, offering lasting social and educational benefits.
The new homes will be built to Hill’s exacting standards, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency. A fabric-first approach to construction will be complemented by air-source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points and other measures to help residents reduce their energy use and running costs. Set within this sought-after village, the development will have strong appeal due to its immediate proximity to the secondary school, established residential areas and excellent connections to the A41.
Andy Hill OBE, founder and Group Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said:
“This neighbourhood is much more than a housing development – it’s a thoughtfully designed place that delivers the right homes in the right location, half of them affordable, while enhancing local biodiversity and supporting healthier, more active lifestyles. This carefully considered development represents a significant opportunity to deliver new homes, community facilities and lasting social value for Kings Langley, creating a neighbourhood where people, nature and learning can flourish side by side.”
Access to the new neighbourhood will be from Chipperfield Road, with highway improvements forming part of the proposals. These will include new speed humps to slow traffic and the widening of footpaths to improve pedestrian safety and access to the school.