‘Nobody wants this, but we have no choice’

Council leader’s message as likely locations for 900 new homes are outlined

THE likely location of around 900 new homes has been announced by Three Rivers District Council, with many pencilled in for Green Belt land.

The council is responding to Government demands that some 4,000 new homes be built in the district by 2021.

Originally 3,600 new developments were demanded, but changes to the planners’ calculations announced last year pushed the number up to 4,000.

The majority of these full or outline planning permission or are in the process of being built. A shortfall of around 900 homes, however, must still be met.

Councillors, who must by the end of next year present to the Government its development strategy for the next 15 years, launched a public consultation in August last year highlighting eight possible locations for the extra homes.

Residents were asked to respond with their least favoured option(s) or suggest alternative locations.

The council, which has called the number excessive, will in the coming weeks issue five so called “preferred option sites” in which to plug the shortfall.

Details of these sites are:

• South East Abbots Langley: 300 to 400 homes.

• Green Belt area on the former aerodrome site now known as Leavesden Park.

• West of South Oxhey – 100 homes Green belt area around Little Furze Primary School, south of Gosforth Lane.

• East Kings Langley – 100 homes Potential flood zone in an area east of Kings Langley between the River Gade to the west, and the West Coast Main Line to the east.

• East Carpenders Park – 100 homes Green belt land and a potential flood zone on land to the south east of the built up area of Carpenders Park at the junction of Oxhey Lane and Little Oxhey Lane.

• East of Abbots Langley – 100 homes Green Belt area on the northern outskirts of Garston, east of Woodside Road.

If approved by the council’s ruling executive committee, the five options will be aired at a full six week public consultation throughout November and December, running into January 2009 if necessary.

This will include an exhibition at the council’s Rickmansworth offices, and a district-wide questionnaire before the sites are finalised.

Council leader Ann Shaw described the proposed sites as the “least worst option,” restating the council’s repeated opposition to the demands placed on it.

She said: “Nobody wants this and none of us have enjoyed this process.

“Unfortunately we have no choice but to do what the Government want. If we don’t then we will be punished.”

Councillor Shaw said the likely consequences of refusing to co-operate would be government planners forcing through developments on sites beyond the council’s influence or control.

Dates for the consultation will be announced by the council in the coming weeks.

For more information please see www.threerivers.gov.uk

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