National Day of Action 18th April
This SOS campaign is focused on the Green Man and Shottfield Close proposals, with an interest in other developments around Sandridge, Hertfordshire
Do we really want to lose these TWO green fields for ever?
Decision Time? - The next scheduled planning meeting is for Wednesday 29th April when Shottfield may be discussed and voted on. We need as many people as possible to attend and show their support - we will update this page once the date is confirmed.
Website Updates - while we're waiting for the applications to reach the planning committee for decisions, we've updated the lists of relevant news reports, organisations, campaigns, and council / government information. With recent rain, we've also updated the flooding page. Please have a browse or search and see what nuggets you can find!
Shottfield Close - see its own page for the latest status
Green Man - see its own page for the latest status
Other updates are below - we've been busy!
No matter how small, we appreciate every single donation received, and all funds will go directly towards independent specialist reports. It's the efforts of individuals and contributions of many, that will make a difference!
We are at the stage in the campaign where we need to pay for reports for both proposed developments – firstly Highways, and next will be Ecology and Flood Risk. Initially we are looking at raising £5,000.
Please click the gold bag, or here to donate.
We are well on the way, with just over £1,000 raised so far. Thank you!
Do you really want to lose these TWO green fields for ever?
1.5 millon+ derelict homes renovated.
1 million+ unbuilt homes already with permission, built.
1.4 million homes developed on brownfield sites, first.
165,000 empty commercial properties repurposed.
26 million empty bedrooms incentivised for rental.
Millions of homes left undisturbed for nature.
Country's entire carbon budget not used up.
Woollam Park - this outline planning application for 1,000 homes on the fields between Harpenden Road and the railway line will have a big impact on Sandridge - not just the extra road traffic, but also because they intend to close Sandridgebury Lane, forcing Sandridge residents who need to access North St Albans (eg STAGS and Townsend schools) to negotiate the two extremely busy junctions at the King William and Ancient Briton. There is still time to comment on the planning portal 5/2024/2271 - the plans are so vast that the Council made a separate website for all the plan documents here. We have now submitted an objection on behalf of Save Our Sandridge (SOS) - you can read it here.
NPPF - we have submitted our response to the Government's proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework - you can read it here. We copied our MP Victoria Collins on our submission, you can read her detailed reply to SOS here.
Publicity - We walked around both Sandridge sites with Matt Adams, the editor of the highly respected St Albans Times newspaper, and his in-depth article was published on 9th October 2025 [link]. With a follow-up on 26th January 2026 [link].
Alternatives to Development - We've added links to three organisations which ALL explain how to tackle the housing crisis WITHOUT destroying green fields!
Archaeology - We've added a section about the Sandridge Gold Hoard which was discovered in 2012. It illustrates how this is an important area to preserve and protect, not to build upon!
Sewage & Flooding - We've added a section about the sewage and surface water problem (see here) and have been in touch with our MP. You can read her reply here.
The Community Planning Alliance have published their Grey Belt Tracker results:
68,000 'grey belt' houses shown in our tracker
Of which 65% are at planning application, 14% at appeal and 17% in local plan review.
Sites are listed as mostly arable, meadow, pasture & paddock (plus 14 entries that are flood plain).
Not a disused petrol station or car park in sight.
80% are for housing, 7% industrial and 7% solar (the rest other)
The three worst affected Green Belts are Metropolitan, North West and West Midlands.
AT LEAST 5,800 acres at risk (many submitting were uncertain about the amount of land at risk, for example during a local plan review).
Here are the sites mapped - you can click on each marker to find out more.
You can add any green belt applications you are aware of to the tracker here.
And here is the Greying the Green Belt Report: click here.
Don’t forget they have a day of action for nature, parks and green spaces on 18th April. Click here for more information.
NPPF consultation resources are here.
The developers claim the sites are all "grey belt"; Sir Kier Starmer recently provided absolute clarity on what that means 🤣
2025-10-22 pmq grey belt.mp4Save North St Albans Green Belt featured in this informative and thought provoking short film made by The Times Online in Feb 2025…
Brown field first approach is not being used, grey belt is supposed to be disused car parks and petrol stations, and why all this housing won’t solve the affordability crisis.
The campaigners fighting to save green spaces Times Reports.mp4
“Green Belt is often portrayed as unattractive ‘scrub land’, an argument used to say it is worthless and should be developed. But national planning policy states: ‘Once Green Belts have been defined; local planning authorities should plan positively to enhance their beneficial use.’ And Green Belt is increasingly needed to plant forests, help manage rainfall, moderate the urban heat island effect, provide habitat to address species decline, grow food locally to cities, and provide space for recreation.
Talking about building on Green Belt as a means to solving the housing crisis is a red herring, a distraction.” (CPRE, February 2025)
We need your help! (see this)
Please share this website and our campaign far and wide to raise awareness
This website was most recently updated on Mon 16-Mar-2026
