You can help shape the future of Hertsmere

Do you have a view on how Hertsmere should develop over the next 15 years? Where new homes should be built? How should employment and other essential development needs be catered for? Or how our town and local centres can be strengthened?

Hertsmere Borough Council has to put together a plan setting out the principles to guide development in the borough until 2021. This addresses national guidance, as well as community needs, and we need your views to help shape this. Once adopted by us the plan will become the most important document for assessing planning applications in the future.

You’ve already given us some initial views and these have formed our preferred options for the plan - called the Core Strategy. Now we need to hear from you further about these preferred options before our plans are submitted for Government examination. A number of public exhibitions are being held (see details below) so please come along and talk to us.

What does the Core Strategy 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
• Encouraging economic development and education.

What does this mean?

The Core Strategy is quite complex, but it proposes a number of important policies to guide future development in the borough to support the following key areas:

Housing

• Meet Government house building requirements.
• Provide for a small amount of housing outside of existing urban areas at the end of the Plan period, 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.

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 existing facilities for local 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 centre shops.
• Allow small-scale retail development in Shenley.
• Ensure that town centres are safe and enjoyable during evening hours.

How can you comment?

You can download a copy of the strategy and comment online here.

You can also visit us at one of our exhibitions and drop-in sessions, anytime between 4.30pm and 8.30pm at:

• Shenley Cricket Centre, Radlett Lane, Shenley - Tuesday 13 November
• Wyllyotts Centre, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar - Thursday 15 November
• Radlett Centre, 1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett - Tuesday 20 November
• Borehamwood Football Club, Broughinge Road, Meadow Park, Borehamwood - Thursday 22 November
• Bushey Country Club, Bushey Country Club, High Street, Bushey - Tuesday 27 November

Or you can:
- Call us on: 020 8207 7582
- Write to us at:
Policy and Transport team
Hertsmere Borough Council
Civic Offices
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts WD6 1WA
- Email us: core.strategy@hertsmere.gov.uk

Closing date for responses is 17 December 2007.

Once we get your views on the preferred options, we can then shape the Core Strategy which is expected to be finalised in 2008, and then submitted to Government for public examination.

For more information please click here.