Bushey politicians have welcomed new council legislation to increase the number of parking spaces provided with new housing developments.

Hertsmere Borough Council has revised its Car Parking Standards Supplementary Planning Document, which sets out the council’s off-street parking guidelines for new developments. 

The new policy came into effect last week, following a consultation process. 

It has been revised to help address concerns that not enough parking was being provided at some new developments in the borough. 

Bushey North councillor Leslie Winters welcomed the move, saying that the lack of parking had become a safety issue as well as an inconvenience.

He said: "The reason this has been brought in is because there is no parking facilities on the road any more.

"I’ve seen mothers with prams having to walk in the road because people are so badly parked on the pavement.

"Parking is just not available. Without parking facilities people just park on the road. With one of the roads in my ward, there’s one way traffic either way because there are so many people parked up."

Parking standards in Hertsmere have previously been based on the number of bedrooms per property, but some bedrooms were being described as studies and gyms- meaning that developers could meet parking standards by showing a reduced number of bedrooms in each property. 

Councillor Harvey Cohen, portfolio holder for planning and localism, said: "We know parking can be an issue for our existing and new residents when new developments are built so these revisions aim to ensure we are doing all we can to ensure there is adequate provision."

Councillor Winters continued that developments in the pipeline may have to change their plans to fit the new policy.

He said plans to build a new residential care home on Bushey Hall Road, which has raised dozens of objections from residents, may be put on hold.

He said: "On Bushey Hall Road, there are zero parking facilities. And now there is the planning application for the residential home there. I am so pleased we have this new law, it may put a block on having it done."