A farmer was left “gobsmacked” as 800 villagers gathered to object plans to build 1,000 new homes on his land.

Dacorum Borough Council has launched its initial Local Plan consultation and one of the Green Belt sites being considered for development is Wayside Farm, in Kings Langley.

Farmer Charlie Wray says he was initially told 300 homes were being considered for the 160-acre county council-owned site, which has been home to his cattle for the last 37 years.

However, it was later revealed that the figure could be closer to 1,000 homes and he could lose his livelihood if he has to leave the farm.

Hundreds of people living in Kings Langley congregated to object at an extraordinary parish meeting at Kings Langley School last night.

Mr Wray was in awe at how many people showed up to discuss the issues and options consultation of the local plan, as the school hall could only fit 500 people and so the rest had to stand outside.

Mr Wray said: “I was gobsmacked at the amount of support and the number of people who turned up to the meeting.

“I’m a lot more confident now, as it shows how strongly people feel about this. Never seen anything like it in any meetings I have been to in the village.

“I do feel there could be an alternative site that could be used for more homes- particularly as there are plenty of brownfield sites around Kings Langley.

“Huge numbers of people walk through the farm every day and we have our own shop on site where we sell items including vegetables and milk, so it will be devastating to lose our livelihood.”

Chelsie Harvey lives in Kings Langley and attended the meeting to show her support for the farm.

She said: “Why would you want houses built on one of the remaining dairy farms in Hertfordshire - the community should be proud to have one. We don’t want to lose the farm or the cows.”

Tom Garratt, who works as a secured loans director, said he objects to new homes as the village is “already bursting at the seams”.

He said: “I understand the need for housing but Kings Langley is a village with green belt and quiet spaces already bursting at the seams.

“Our sewage system in Waterside floods on a monthly basis due to too much volume, the a41 onto the M25 queues from Hemel Hempstead on a daily basis and it takes me 20 minutes to get to the M25 each morning.”

Adam Roe added: “We have enough homes to house everyone already and I don’t want my property to come down in price.”

Andy Miller said: “I would like to see the village retain its identity rather than become an extension of Watford or Hemel Hempstead.”

James Doe, Dacorum Borough Council’s assistant director planning, development and regeneration, said: “Dacorum Borough Council is at the very early stages of preparing the new Local Pan for the area and carrying out the Issues and Options consultation.  A key aspect of this consultation is to get feedback on a range of options for the number of new homes the Borough should provide up to 2036, and where these should be built.  Like all Councils, we are required by Central Government to increase the number of new homes we set land aside for in order to help address the national housing shortage. 

"In terms of Kings Langley, the growth proposals range from an option that would require no development in fields surrounding the village, through to an option which would require the use of land that is currently undeveloped.   

"As part of considering these options we are asking for feedback on a range of sites that have been put forward by landowners and developers. The Council has not yet made any decisions about whether any of these sites will actually need to be earmarked for development and will not do so until later in 2018 when we have had a chance to consider all of the responses received to the consultation and to discuss issues raised with key infrastructure providers.  The ability of the infrastructure such as schools, roads and health facilities to cope with any increase in local population will be a key factor that will help us decide on which level of growth will ultimately be chosen for both the village and the Borough as a whole."

Hertfordshire County Council has been contacted for comment.

For more information on the Local Plan consultation, visit: www.dacorum.gov.uk/newlocalplan

The consultation for the local plan closes at midnight on Wednesday, December 13.