Core Strategy

What is this about?

The plans respond to national policy requirements, as well as community needs.

The plan is called a Core Strategy and once adopted by us will become the most important document for assessing planning applications in the future.

What do the plans cover?

Through assessment and consultation we have, with your help, already identified key planning priorities up and until 2021. These are:

• Creating a safer environment, through secure and accessible developments;
• Meeting local housing need;
• Sustaining the quality of Hertsmere’s natural and built environment;
• Strengthening communities and promoting cultural opportunities; and
• Encouraging economic development and education.

What does this mean?

We are supporting the following areas:

Housing

• Meet Government house building requirements.
• Provide for a small amount of housing outside of existing urban areas, if insufficient brownfield land comes forward, in line with Government requirements. Spread house-building evenly over the period ending 2021.
• Provide housing for all sections of the community.
• Meet Government requirements for gypsy and traveller sites.
• Ensure housing developments cater for the needs of the community.

Economy

• Protect areas of importance for local employment and promote affordable locations for local enterprise.
• Protect Hertsmere’s role in the film industry.

Sustainability

• Protect and enhance the Green Belt and important natural or historical sites.
• Encourage greater access to open spaces and the countryside.
• Require new development to be environmentally friendly.
• Aim to retain facilities and strengthen communities.
• Promote developments that combine housing, commerce and local facilities.
• Require large developers to make a contribution to the community.
• Require safe, well-designed and accessible development.

Transport

• Encourage developments with good transport links.
• Create standards to govern the number of off-street car parking spaces on new developments.
• Promote safe and sustainable forms of transport.

Retail

• Protect and promote town centres.
• Allow small-scale retail development in Shenley.
• Ensure that town centres are safe and enjoyable during evening hours.

Where can I see the full details?

A full copy of the Core Strategy Preferred Options is available to download here:

•  Core Strategy Preferred Options  1MB

A copy of the Core Strategy Preferred Options Summary Leaflet is available to download here:

• Core Strategy Preferred Options Summary Leaflet  1MB

You may also wish to download the following documents:

• Sustainabilty Appraisal Main Report  990KB
• Sustainability Appraisal Appendices  1MB

How can I give my views?

The consultation period for the Core Strategy Preferred Options report closed at 5pm on 24 December 2007, and we are no longer accepting submissions. However, if you have any questions regarding this document, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Call us: 020 8207 7582

Write to us:

Policy and Transport Team
Hertsmere Borough Council
Civic Offices
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts WD6 1WA

Email us: core.strategy@hertsmere.gov.uk 

What happens now?

Now we have your views on the Preferred Options report, we can shape the Core Strategy which is expected to be finalised in 2008, and then submitted to Government for approval.