Hertsmere development sites revealed ahead of draft local plan

Hertsmere Borough Council has unveiled its list of development sites that form part of its draft Local Plan which has been years in the making.

The Government wants 300,000 homes a year to be built across the country and councils are under pressure to find suitable sites to deliver its share of those targets.

Council officers in Hertsmere have been scrutinising dozens and dozens of sites put forward by developers and landowners.

These sites have now been whittled down to a total of 52 comprising of 14 strategic sites and 39 smaller housing sites (12,160 homes in total) which have been identified in Hertsmere for residential development within this draft local plan, which runs up until 2037/38.

In Borehamwood, this includes 2,155 new homes, which would involve the creation of two new neighbourhoods.

These would be situated off Cowley Hill and off Barnet Lane.

The land off Cowley Hill has been earmarked for 800 homes along with a primary school, while land east and west of Barnet Lane, near Deacons Hill Road, has been proposed to accommodate 325 homes in total, along with a possible secondary school.

Marked in red is the Cowley Hill site for 800 homes. Credit: Google Maps

The plan states the proposals off Barnet Lane "secures the village green" which could be referring to Woodcock Hill.

The remaining seven sites are Elstree Way Corridor (685 homes), Organ Hall Farm (165), The Point in Borehamwood town centre (150), Well End Lodge (15), Lyndhurst Farm (10) and land off Green Street (5).

Alongside housing, The Point, which is currently home to a cinema and bingo hall, could be revitalised with more entertainment and leisure facilities.

A new healthcare facility is proposed as part of the local plan in Elstree Way while Schopwick Surgery would relocate from its current home in Elstree closer to Borehamwood at a site in Allum Lane.

Marked in red is a rough outline of where 250 homes north of Barnet Lane have been earmarked with a further 75 at another site. Credit: Google Maps

Elstree Way, Stirling Way, Imperial Place, Borehamwood Enterprise Centre, and Theobald Court would be protected for economic development, while the Sky Studios development, which is under construction between Rowley Lane and the A1, is being referred to in the plan as the "Media Quarter".

The plan states a further 50 hectares of land next to the current construction site is earmarked for the development of additional sound stages and supporting facilities, including the proposed second phase of the Sky Studios scheme.

Other areas of Hertsmere will be built on too to meet housing targets.

In Elstree, 190 new homes are proposed within the plan, including 100 homes south of Edgwarebury in Elstree Hill South and 90 extra care units on land north of Watford Road.

Shenley would see 290 homes delivered in the plan, including 50 off Harris Lane, and 240 - including 100 care units - on land to the west of London Road known as Longview & Shenley Grange.

Radlett would accommodate 760 homes with new neighbourhoods delivered on land north of Watford Road and on land between Shenley Hill and Theobald Street.

A new primary school would be created north of Watford Road Road, along with a new community centre off Watford Road.

No secondary school is proposed specifically in Radlett but land has been earmarked for a relocation and expansion of the existing Red House GP surgery.

Elsewhere in Hertsmere, there are 2,340 homes earmarked for Bushey, along with four primary schools and a secondary school, 1,750 homes in Potters Bar, and 225 in South Mimms.

Further small sites have been idenitified in Aldenham and Letchmore Heath.

But the bulk of development would come in the shape of a huge new housing development on the edge of Hertsmere near St Albans.

The Bowmans Cross development is designed to incorporate 6,000 homes once complete, with 2,400 delivered during this local plan period.

The land that borders Colney Heath, Welham Green, London Colney, and the M25, would also be used for a minimum of four primary schools, at least one secondary school, a healthcare facility, offices, leisure and cultural facilities, retail, and dining.

It is estimated once complete, 14,000 people will be living at Bowmans Cross, with 40 per cent of all of the homes being delivered designated as affordable.

The council's Executive committee will meet on September 14 to decide on the next steps for the draft local plan process.

It is expected the committee will agree to publish the draft local plan for public consultation, with consultation likely to take place later this year.

Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Cllr Morris Bright, said: "Hertsmere is a fantastic place to live which we should rightly be proud of, but this popularity does cause pressures for homes and services.

"By planning for growth locally we can ensure that we deliver the homes we need alongside the jobs, infrastructure and services to support this growth.

"Without an up-to-date plan, development can be taken out of local hands and it could mean less money for delivering the facilities and services our residents want and need."