As expected, councillors have tonight rejected an outline planning application to build 310 houses on greenbelt land near Harts Farm, Little Bushey Lane. Our representative, Cllr Jerry Evans, voted against it on behalf of Bushey Lib Dems. But in fact the decision was unanimous, with reps from all parties also voting against.
This outcome was almost inevitable once planning officers formally recommended refusal.
However, this is very far from the end of the story. The developers, Redrow, had already lodged an appeal, and ultimately the national planning inspectorate will decide.
The stark fact is our greenbelt is now increasingly at risk because council leaders drafted an outrageous Local Plan which was inevitably going to be rejected. That plan has been shelved but no progress has been made, which in planning terms invites developers to make predatory bids.
It doesn’t help that council leaders have repeatedly forced through other greenbelt developments, including at the Mercure and Sky Studios. This also encourages developers to try their luck.
And as it stands, the Harts Farm site itself remains on the Local Plan. If it stays in the final plan, Redrow would almost automatically win a fresh planning application.
The same applies to the other key Bushey sites at risk - the fields off Farm Way and Bushey Mill Lane.
After the May elections, there’ll be a newly-chosen council in place. We can only hope they’ll be committed to protecting our precious greenbelt, not siding with the interests of developers.
Bushey Lib Dems say the appeal must be refused: There are no Very Special Circumstances. Residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the development. The site is environmentally sensitive and a flood plain. It would likely generate 1,000 daily car journeys.
Redrow have already lodged an appeal even before Hertsmere's planning committee considers their application to build 310 houses on Harts Farm.
Hertsmere council have issued a new appeal for sites for future development. Residents will rightly want to know what this signifies. Looking at the detail, we see some positives, some negatives, but most importantly, no change on the crucial issues.
