Outline planning permission has been granted for up to 42 homes to be built on former school playing fields in Letchworth.

The site between Croft Lane, Norton Road and Cashio Lane was previously playing pitches for Norton School.

The school permanently closed in 2003, following a reorganisation of secondary school education provision in the Letchworth and Baldock area, and part of the site has since been redeveloped for housing.

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) owns the land and now wants to build up to 42 houses on the remaining 3.7 hectare site - 11 homes per hectare, which is considerably less than the original Garden City standard of 30 homes per hectare.

An application for a similar development on the same site was refused by North Herts Council, with an appeal dismissed on the grounds that it had not been demonstrated that financial contributions sought were compliant with regulations.

Acting on behalf of HCC, architecture and planning consultancy Vincent and Gorbing said: "There are no technical or environmental constraints that are not capable of being mitigated", and "no significant harm will arise from the implementation of the application proposals".

North Herts Council's "significant shortfall" in the delivery of its five-year housing land supply was also highlighted. 

Dozens of residents and Norton Action Group, which has around 500 members, objected to the plans, with concerns including increased traffic, lack of infrastructure, loss of green space, and adverse impact on wildlife.

However, in a report, North Herts Council's planning officer highlighted that the development "would provide valuable housing, including 40% affordable housing that meets local housing need", and "would deliver a high-quality and inclusive residential development".

She said: "The proposal would achieve a well-designed sense of place and make effective use of land."

Outline planning permission has been granted by North Herts Council subject to a raft of conditions, including that, before the development can begin, approval of the details of the internal access, appearance, scale, layout and landscaping of the proposed development must be obtained from North Herts Council.

Norton Action Group has previously warned that it would consider seeking a judicial review if outline planning permission was granted.