Warehouse plans on A41 Mercure hotel site set to be approved

Around 30,000 square feet of warehouse and storage space is set to be created on the A41 near Bushey, where the Mercure hotel currently lies. 

Hertsmere Borough Council is recommending its planning committee approve the outline application when it meets on November 17. 

Applicant Regen Properties already has permission for a scheme half the size of the latest proposal but has aspirations for a larger logistics site.

Rough outline of that site proposed to build the warehouses on. Credit: Google Maps (Image: Google Maps)

It would involve the demolition of the Mercure hotel, which was previously set to close in early 2022, but is currently being utilised by the Home Office.

The applicant says 335 jobs would be created during construction and around 536 direct and indirect jobs once completed.

Read more: Costco Bushey set to make these changes to ease traffic problems

The scheme approved by Hertsmere Borough Council last year. The latest plans seek to get permission again for this as well as the rest of the site. Credit: Regen Properties LLP/UMC Architects (Image: Regen Properties LLP/UMC Architects)

A council officer believes there are "very special circumstances" that allow this proposed development to go ahead despite it being in the green belt.

Their report states: "The proposed scheme is considered to be inappropriate development in the green belt.

"However, very special circumstances exist that would clearly outweigh the identified harm. These include support for the post-Covid economic recovery, the provision of storage and distribution floor space in response to identified need, and the delivery of a number of highway improvements."

The latest proposal. Credit: Regen Properties LLP/UMC Architects