Councillors say Bushey's green belt will be 'decimated' under local plan

Bushey North councillor Paul Richards made the comments during a meeting in which the council's senior Conservative members agreed to send the plan out for public consultation in October.

Last week, the council released a list of sites that it has identified as suitable to redevelop to meet Government housing targets of 760 homes per year up until 2037/38.

The council said it expects around 2,900 homes to be built in total in the Bushey area over this period.

Speaking at an Executive meeting held at the council's offices in Borehamwood on Tuesday evening, Cllr Richards said: "In Bushey, this plan is particularly unfair – nearly 2,000 homes on three strategic sites will decimate green belt and then add in Bushey Country Club.

"This is not a good deal for Hertsmere's green belt, cut from 80 per cent to 75 per cent. It’s not nimbyism to express concerns about the scale of development."

Sites earmarked for redevelopment in Bushey in the Hertsmere draft local plan. Credit: Hertsmere Liberal Democrats

His colleague - and party leader - Cllr Jerry Evans added: "Bushey's population will grow by 40 per cent in 25 years under this plan. We don't think this is ready to go out to consultation."

Cllr Richards called for the council to halve the number of homes in its draft local plan and also pointed towards the "hundreds of empty homes" in the borough and the brownfield sites that could be used across the country.

He called for council leader Morris Bright and Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden to "push back more rigorously" on housing targets and indicated his party will vote against sending the draft local plan out to consultation when it comes to a full council meeting at the end of the month.

Related: Hertsmere development sites revealed in draft local plan

left to right: Three major housing sites earmarked in in Bushey. Left is off Farm Way (750 homes), next is off Little Bushey Lane (350) and third off Elstree Road (800). Credit: Google Maps

Conservative leader Cllr Bright responded to the Liberal Democrats' comments: "I cannot at all begin to understand the Liberal Democrat position because they are saying it’s not ready, we don’t like the numbers…why wouldn’t you go out and ask the people?

"Why wouldn’t you engage which is what the (Hertsmere) Labour party are saying. We’ve got to the stage after several years where we show the people what we’ve got, tell us your views.

"Lib Dems, tell us where you’re going to put the half of the numbers."

Councillor Harvey Cohen, who has led the local plan process in Hertsmere, said: "This is a draft local plan and it is not our final plan. Why not engage with your residents?

"I just want to remind you what local Liberal Democrat councils are doing. Watford are planning to build 787 new homes (a year) Three rivers 630. Your local councils which are run by opposition all recognise the national housing shortage and all recognise the Government’s methodology means we have to give up green belt and build more homes.

"We don’t want to give up green belt but we realise we have a duty too – because of the shortage and for future generations and to make it more affordable. But at least it's in our hands to decide where we place the developments."

A six-week period of engagement is set to begin on Monday October 11, giving residents and community groups a further opportunity to comment on the draft local plan.