Hemel Hempstead-based developer Thrive Homes have submitted an application to turn the B&Q store in Bridge Road East into 151 appartments. The WGC community made it clear that they objected to the loss of the store way back in 2021 when the initial application was made. This has clearly not changed, if anything, the appetite to keep B&Q as the existing retail site has grown.

Clearly, this is an employment site; it is listed as such in the existing and emerging local plans, the council have rejected the application on this basis (amongst others). There is nothing that the developer has presented to negate this.

We cannot see on what basis the developer hopes to overturn the policy-driven decision that the Council correctly made in refusing the initial application – it is an unnecessary appeal that will now incur costs for the council to defend, money that could and should be spent on many other services for our residents.