Development on green belt land, which has already been eyed up for hundreds of new homes, could be expanded after a new proposal was put forward.

Around 3.2 hectares of land off Black Lion Hill in Shenley has been identified as potential new employment space as part of Hertsmere Borough Council's local plan.

Landowners, The Comer Group, have already put forward a much larger piece of adjoining land for housing.

The Comer Group says it can build around 500 homes on land towards the bottom of Black Lion Hill and put the site forward for redevelopment back in 2018.

The council believes around 370 homes could be built on this land and will decide whether or not to put the site in its local plan, which will be released in draft form next month.

The land owned by The Comer Group. To the left, Watford football clubs indoor training ground dome can be seen

The land owned by The Comer Group. To the left, Watford football club's indoor training ground dome can be seen

A further development at the Rectory Farm site could see the creation of a new primary school - or the relocation and expansion of existing Shenley Primary School.

A masterplan developed by The Comer Group's planning agents Savills shows how the new developments could be laid out.

The school would be situated on the left of the site, close to the mini-roundabout where the bottom of Black Lion Hill and Porters Park Drive meet.

Further left is where employment space has been mooted, opposite the Good Shepherd Royal Catholic Church.

The rest of the land has been set aside for homes, woodland, and playing fields.

Access to the whole site would be via a new road opposite the church, with further pedestrian and cycle access opposite Porters Park and further up Black Lion Hill.

We have created this map outling the whole proposed development site. The yellow circle marks where a school could go and the smaller burgundy square is roughly where employment space would go. Based on designs by Savills. Credit: Google Maps

We have created this map outling the whole proposed development site. The yellow circle marks where a school could go and the smaller burgundy square is roughly where employment space would go. Based on designs by Savills. Credit: Google Maps

The bottom of Black Lion Hill, pictured, could see the formation of a new development

The bottom of Black Lion Hill, pictured, could see the formation of a new development

A statement within a planning document created by Savills explains why a new area of land had been put forward for employment, following a call for new sites from the council.

It says: "We have spoken to our business space agency colleagues who cover this area. The site has good access onto a main road land then good onward access to the strategic road network and M25.

"Accordingly, the site is considered to be in a good position that would be attractive to employment users and will provide greater opportunities for existing (and future) local residents. It is in a sustainable location with easy access for future employees to Shenley and its varied facilities.

"Due to the size of the site it offers a range of options and would be well suited to accommodate smaller units such as offices, workshops or light industrial uses that would be aimed at small to medium enterprises."