News PRP Receives Planning for Harpenden Road in St Albans

PRP Receives Planning for Harpenden Road in St Albans

News, Press Releases

September 05, 2025

Plans for PRP’s Harpenden Road project in St Albans was awarded planning permission this week. The plans were previously pulled last minute from the St Albans planning committee three times since submission back in July 2024.

Designed for Cala Homes (Chiltern), the proposals for 124 new homes in St Albans include 40% affordable housing and several custom-build dwellings. As well as providing much-needed new homes in the borough where there are significant unmet housing needs.

The development will enhance the wider local area with new green spaces, play facilities, cycleways and a community growing area.

The RMA followed an outline approval in 2022 for up to 150 dwellings on this greenbelt site. The edge of settlement position and greenbelt status required a sensitive design approach to ensure that the development sits comfortably and harmoniously within the surrounding context of North St Albans. The designs draw on the surrounding 1930s residential character and local agricultural vernacular, creating a varied, distinctive and high-quality development for future communities to live and grow in for many generations to come.

Senior Architect and Project Lead, Celia Cooper says: "We are delighted that the St Albans planning committee has approved this scheme which will deliver essential new homes to the city, including 40% affordable housing. Our design approach was to respect the site’s edge‑of‑settlement context and deliver a sensitive, well‑considered response that optimises the development opportunity in this sustainable location, where affordable housing delivery has been lacking. We are proud to partner once again with Cala Homes on another high‑quality scheme that will provide healthy homes in a sustainable setting, alongside new accessible green spaces and play facilities for the wider community to use and enjoy."

For more information, please contact Amelie Barrau, Head of Marketing at PRP: a.barrau@prp-co.uk or 07476999303.