One of the developments proposed in Hertsmere's new Local Plan is for Harts Farm on Little Bushey Lane where 350 homes and a primary school are planned. It is also a potential new secondary school site.
This is a guide to help you make your comments. The most powerful comments will be those expressed in your own words.
Here is the link to comment directly on this proposal: https://hertsmere-consult.objective.co.uk/portal/pp/lp_reg18/draft_lp_reg_18?pointId=s16330889099228#section-s16330889099228
To make your comments select the "Add Comment" tab at the top of that section:
You will need to register before you make any comments through the portal. If you need it we've made a step-by-step guide to using the portal.
Alternatively you can email your comments to local.plan@hertsmere.gov.uk or, if you prefer, write a letter addressed to
Local Plan Consultation
Hertsmere Borough Council
3 Elstree Way
Borehamwood WD6 9SR
It is not NIMBY to care about your local areas. Here some valid reasons you could object to this proposal:
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Loss of Greenbelt
This proposal would remove 45 acres from the greenbelt. Greenbelt was created to provide a permanent barrier to urban sprawl and to allow different settlements to keep their individual identities. You could explain why this piece of greenbelt is important to you, and to keeping Bushey separate from other towns. -
Infrastructure
You could share any concerns you have about whether the roads in the area could cope with the addition of 350 more houses, spelling out any potential road problems as you see them, or other infrastructure issues that concern you such as GP services or parking spaces. You may want to consider the cumulative effect of all the proposed developments in Bushey. -
Flooding
The fields around Harts Farm are on a flood plain. A stream cuts across the site from Elstree Road towards Sandy Lane. Many local residents have experienced flooding. You could explain to the planners what flooding worries you may have about the development of Harts Farm for housing, particularly in combination with other recent devolpments like Rossway Drive. -
Climate change
We are in a climate emergency and the concreting over of green fields makes it harder for our country and Hertsmere Borough to meet their carbon reduction commitments. You could explain how you think building on these fields will affect our climate response. -
Wildlife
Our country is also suffering from a nature emergency and this year the UK govenrment made a commitment to a "nature positive future". Development of this site will affect the wildlife who use it, regardless of any attempt at mitigations. Species using this land include a a colony of pipistrelle bats, a permanent family of Canada geese and a larger migrating colony that comes twice a year and muntjac deer. You could let the planners know about the wildlife you have seen and the concerns you have for its habitat. -
No public transport
Public transport is required to make any new development sustainable. The site is not near to a train station and while the plan promises improved bus services, bus companies are privately owned and not under the control of Hertsmere Borough Council. You could explain to the planners how you think this site does not meet its sustainablity policies.
When you've finished commenting on the proposal for this site, you could consider commenting elsewhere on the plan. In particular site B2 for 750 houses further along Little Bushey Lane, on the land north of Farm Way. This proposal includes a shopping precinct, a primary school and is also a potential secondary school site. We've made a separate guide to that site here.
Here are some more general policies you can comment on:
- The strategy for Bushey as a whole
- The plan's "Town centre first" objective and whether the proposed housing developments breach this
- Does the plan meet its goal of sustainable growth and regeneration?
- Whether the plan protects Hertsmere's greenbelt?
- Will this plan help the residents of Hertsmere achieve carbon net zero by 2050?
- Does this plan protect and enhance the environment?
- The plan calls for a secondary school somewhere in Bushey. Does Bushey need another secondary school? Or should one be built in Radlett where residents have been asking for one to be built for years.
- Is the transport part of the plan actually sustainable?
- Have highways and parking been properly considered?
