Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on Hertsmere Borough Council new local plan consultation.

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on Hertsmere Borough Council new local plan consultation.

The report discussed the latest consultation from Hertsmere Borough Council. Hertsmere were in the process of preparing a new local plan. The Council had been consulted on at previous stages of the preparation of their local plan. Officers confirmed that this was still an informal document as defined by regulation 18.

In the consultation document Hertsmere Borough Council set out their preferred special strategy and related policies for accommodation growth. Whilst this was supported by some evidence, a sustainability appraisal was still in preparation. This meant the Council was unable to assess how individual sites performed against each other.

The report itself focused on two specific areas, the proposed new settlement at Bowmans Cross; and sites around Potters Bar, where there were infrastructure implications given the proximity of the settlement to Welwyn Hatfield Borough.

The Draft HLP Regulation 18 document had been approved for consultation with consultation responses required by 6 December 2021 (the deadline has been extended from the previously advertised date of 22 November).

Provision would be made for at least 12,160 new homes, a minimum of 760 homes a year, up to 2038, with a large proportion of the borough’s future development needs provided by the four main areas of Borehamwood and Elstree, Potters Bar, Bushey and the new settlement of Bowmans Cross.

The draft HLP proposed 6,000 homes at the new settlement of Bowmans Cross together with supporting infrastructure and employment/business facilities. This would be delivered through 2,400 dwellings proposed within the plan period up to 2038 and a further 3,600 will be delivered beyond the plan. This new settlement was adjacent to the boundary with Welwyn Hatfield and St Albans.

During the debate the following points were raised and discussed:

•    Members were concerned about site PB2 on the local plan. Officers confirmed that Hertsmere’s PB1 was different to Welwyn Hatfield’s PB1 but they were both located in Potters Bar. Officers confirmed that in the past Welwyn Hatfield was not at a stage to fully consider PB1 on the local plan.

•    Members considered the proposed new settlement at Bowmans Cross site, to be located at one of the least sustainable areas in Hertfordshire. The roads were hazardous and very few people would want to walk/ cycle on that road.

•    Members asked how much weight would be attached to the concerns raised in any response?  Officers stated that all matters raised would be looked at by the local plan inspector and they would need to consider particularly, the points around exceptional circumstances and rationale for selecting sites.

•    It was noted that every local authority had concerns about infrastructure when looking at local plans and a greater level of engagement with Herefordshire County Council would be welcomed.  

•    Members thought that the Council should explore future cooperation in Potters Bar with Hertsmere Council and strengthen this as the Council have sites within boundaries.

•    It was noted that in the draft response, Welwyn Hatfield would add an extra sentence emphasise the need for borough councils to work together on their respective Local Plans and future development plans.

RESOLVED:

(unanimous)

The Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel agreed the consultation response provided in Appendix A with the additional sentence to reflect a need to work ‘together on current and future local plans’.