Residents of Northaw and Cuffley opposed to a major development of more than 600 homes are launching a campaign group.

A small band of residents have announced the formation of Save Cuffley and Northaw Green Belt (SCANGB) online and will formalise the group at a series of meetings next month.

The group is a response to the announcement of proposals for 635 new homes, a primary school, swimming pool, retirement village and gym off Northaw Road East.

Metropolis Planning and Design is to submit formal plans to Welwyn Hatfield Council later this month.

David Gibbs, Mike King, Christine Burroughs, and Barry Knichel are behind the formation of SCANGB.

Mr Knichel said: “This is the biggest single thing that has ever hit Northaw and Cuffley.

“We need to formally gauge the reaction of the residents.

“We want to get people together and ask if we are for or against it, what is good about it and what is bad about it.”

Mr Knichel said that they would complement the residents’ association and parish council.

“We thought it would be better to have a group that is focused on this one issue.”

“It’s not just people from Cuffley and Northaw, people from Goffs Oak and even in Brookmans Park are anxious about it.”

“We are not against development per se, and it’s not the quality of the development, but the scale. We are not trying to be nimbys.”

Two meetings will take place at Northaw Village Hall on April 5 from noon to 1pm and 2.30pm to 3.30pm, and two at Cuffley Hall on April 10 from 5pm to 6pm and 7.30pm to 8.30pm.

For more information visit www.scangb.co.uk.