COMMUNITY INSPIRED DEVELOPMENT IN HERTFORD HEATH
HERTFORD HEATH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN UPDATE – April 2024
Important Update on Your Hertford Heath Neighbourhood Plan
In May 2023, an independent review identified flaws in the Parish Council’s previous approach to site selection and public consultation. As a result, their preferred site for 84 homes is no longer considered a viable option on its own. The Parish Council must now conduct a fresh site evaluation process and consult residents on four possible options.
As stakeholders in the development of your beloved neighbourhood, we feel it’s crucial to keep you informed about the progress and challenges encountered in shaping the Hertford Heath Neighbourhood Plan (HHNP).
Since the HHNP’s initiation in 2016, our involvement has been driven by a commitment to ensure that the plan truly reflects the aspirations and needs of all community members as well as providing the housing need of a minimum of 84 homes, in the East Herts District Plan.
The Barclay Grange proposal has been shaped to reflect Parishioners clear desire for community benefits which should come forward together with the housing, such as:
- A safe pedestrian crossing at the Foxholes Farm London Road, ensuring peace of mind for families. Professional evidence has been provided that this is achievable and deliverable and can be funded through a Neighbourhood Plan as advised by HCC.
- Effective traffic-calming measures, fostering a calmer and more pleasant village atmosphere.
- Generous open amenity space, nurturing both children’s play and vibrant biodiversity.
- Ample parking in the village, eliminating daily hassles and promoting accessibility.
- A safe crossing to the bus stop and allotments, empowering residents to access essential services with ease.
- A community hub, including a tea shop and convenience store etc, fostering social connection and local business.
This was undertaken by Watton-at-Stone NHP, who took a proactive approach to delivering both the necessary housing and the essential community benefits identified by residents such as a new football pitch, village parking, open amenity space and a new pedestrian footbridge which are guaranteed alongside the housing development, right from the planning application stage. This approach has been endorsed by East Herts District Council.
Reduced Funding for Community Projects
In July 2022, The Hertford Heath Parish Council announced that funding for community improvement projects, as outlined in the neighbourhood plan, will be reduced. This change is due to decreased contributions it will receive from new developments in Hertford Heath. As a result, Hertford Heath risks a housing development which increases the size of the village by 10% that does little to enhance the lives of its residents.
The Parish Council will now need to consult with residents to manage expectations and determine which projects are most important to the community.
To ensure key improvements are still delivered – not just housing, The Parish Council will need to take a proactive approach like Watton-at-Stone and work with developers to ensure community benefits come forward as part of the master plan. This approach will guarantee that specific community aspirations are included within the neighbourhood plan, rather than relying solely on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments.
Neighborhood Plans should shape communities for the better, benefiting current and future residents. Prioritising housing alone, without considering green spaces, infrastructure, or community amenities, is a short-sighted mistake. To ensure a positive future for Hertford Heath, the Parish Council must avoid a ‘housing only’ approach and ensure developers integrate community benefits into their master plan. This should be a binding commitment, not an afterthought to guarantee residents see the improvements they deserve, but the ultimate decision rests with the Parish Council.
However, we have faced obstacles along the way, primarily related to transparency, inclusivity, and potential misinformation within the public domain particularly in regard to achievable community benefits to potentially favour other options.
Independent Review of Neighbourhood Plan
Following Hertford Heath Parish Council’s submission of the plan to East Herts District Council, an independent review of the NHP was undertaken by AECOM, whose findings in May 2023 underscored critical shortcomings in the methodology for site selection and public consultation processes undertaken by the Steering Group.
The report highlighted several critical key issues:
- Inadequacies in the site scoring and selection to prematurely exclude Barclay Grange and Amwell Place Farm as options.
- Disregard for known environmental, heritage and highway concerns, disproportionately favouring one particular option.
- Limitations of the favoured site’s ability to meet projected housing needs with a requirement for a New Site Selection of Four Options to be considered to meet the housing target:
Amwell Place Farm
Barclay Grange
Haileybury
Land Behind Hertford Motor Company
- Inadequacies in previous public consultations to give the community a clear choice of options based on accurate information.
- Insufficient emphasis on delivering tangible community benefits.
These findings raise legitimate doubts about the current plan’s overall viability and its ability to serve the best interests of the community transparently and inclusively.
Despite awareness of the Haileybury site’s limitations in meeting the minimum housing requirements, rendering it an unsuitable standalone option, the Steering Group has not acted upon Aecom’s proposed solutions, which include a revised site selection process considering the four alternatives and a renewed public consultation emphasizing transparency and inclusivity
The Steering Group and relevant stakeholders continue to exclude certain parties and withhold vital information from the Parishioners. This lack of transparency compromises the integrity of the plan and undermines its ability to reflect community aspirations.
Next steps
Moving forward, it’s imperative that these challenges are addressed collectively to ensure the process is community led . We advocate for open communication, full transparency, and inclusive practices to ensure that the HHNP truly represents the collective vision of the community which is the essence of neighbourhood planning.
In this spirit, we urge the Parish Council to:
- Publicly acknowledge the significant findings of the AECOM report and communicate the potential limitations of certain sites transparently to avoid unrealistic expectations.
- Include all viable sites in future public consultations, as recommended by AECOM, to ensure fairness and transparency in the process.
- Undertake a consultation specifically addressing the community’s desires and needs, including desired community benefits identified since the plan’s inception and the fair assessment of community benefits each potential site could deliver alongside the neighbourhood plan.
- Provide transparency and accountability by disclosing information about the steering group members so concerns of the community can be better addressed.
In the spirit of a truly community-led neighbourhood plan, the Parish Council should commit to open and accountable discussions to maintain the trust in the neighbourhood plan and the Steering Group, with consultation specifically addressing the needs and aspirations of the community.
Your engagement in the process and support are crucial as we navigate these challenges and work towards a neighbourhood plan that truly reflects your collective aspirations.
For further information contact the Hertford Heath Parish Council and District Councillor Tim Hoskin (Vice-Chairman of Steering Group).
How does the Parish Council update effect the community projects identified in the neighbourhood plan?
Important Update on Community Improvements:
In July 2022, the Parish Council announced changes to the amount of funding they will receive from developments in Hertford Heath. This means less funding will be available for community projects outlined in the Neighbourhood Plan. The parish council advised that they would need to now manage expectations of residents to prioritise the projects that matter most to our community.
What this means for residents:
- The Parish Council will have a smaller budget for community improvements.
- The Parish Council will need to consult residents to carefully re-examine the list of projects identified in Neighbourhood Plan and prioritise those that are most important to residents.
New Opportunity: Direct Benefits:
As the Parish Council will now need to reconsult on new sites for housing development within the village, the Parish Council will have the chance to work with developers to guarantee specific community improvements as part of the development itself rather than just relying on the Community infrastructure levy payment. This is line with the East Herts District Plan 2018, which supports using neighbourhood planning to secure community benefits alongside housing.
Possible Community Benefits could include:
- New green spaces
- Infrastructure improvements to roads and crossings
- Improved leisure facilities
- Better community facilities
- Employment
This way, residents will be guaranteed the community benefits alongside the housing, instead of relying on a smaller payment to the Parish Council. Unfortunately, in the past the steering group has not taken up this opportunity unlike other neighbourhood plans in the district.
Your Voice Matters:
With a smaller budget, it’s more critical than ever that new developments provide the specific benefits the community needs, not just housing. Please share your ideas and take part in upcoming community discussions.
Let’s work together to make the most of this opportunity!
What are the constraints of the steering groups preferred site?
Summary of Development Considerations identified by Aecom:
- Ecological Impact: The site’s proximity to the Hertford Heath SSSI, Deciduous Woodland, and Ancient Woodland (High Wood) demands robust mitigation measures within development proposals to safeguard these sensitive habitats. The majority of the site falls within a Woodland Priority Habitat Network (High Spatial Priority), indicating ecological importance which was identified as an area to be protected in the HERC Mapping. Furthermore, dormice have been identified in ecological reports, suggesting the site might support protected species. Trees and hedgerows within the site potentially provide valuable habitat are being removed; a veteran tree within the site must be avoided or carefully mitigated during development.
- Heritage Impact: Development has the potential to negatively affect the setting of three listed buildings (White House, Rose Cottage, Highwood) and their associated features such as the railings and garden gate outside Rose Cottage which are also listed. Mitigation measures like screening and landscaping would be necessary to minimise the impact on these heritage assets. Discussions with the heritage/conservation officer and Historic England are recommended to address potential heritage concerns.
- Landscape Impact: Development of the site and removal of trees along London Road has the potential to change the overall landscape setting of the location being identified as an important visual gateway into the village, including the suburbanisation of the woodland setting of key listed buildings associated with the White House. There are also potential impacts on the open setting to the south of Rose Cottage and Highwood, and the creation of access would result in a change to the immediate setting of the Grade II Rose Cottage through the removal of part of its formal gardens. Appropriate mitigation, for example screening and landscaping, would need to be incorporated into any proposed development.
- Flood Risk: While the general area has low surface water flood risk, a specific eastern section possesses high flood risk. Development proposals must incorporate appropriate mitigation measures to address this concern.
- Access: The proposed main access (vehicle and pedestrian) via the garden of Rose Cottage necessitates mitigation measures and appropriate design to minimise the impact on this formal garden space. Mature trees reside near the proposed access will require removal, requiring discussions with the highways authority to ensure if a safe access with sufficient visibility which does not require the removal of the listed wall and railings is possible. An alternative access point via The Roundings is not suitable due to the road’s narrow and private nature, lacking capacity to serve the entire development.
Development Potential:
- The site holds potential for development, but this is contingent on:
- Establishing a suitable vehicular and pedestrian access route.
- Implementing mitigation strategies to address potential impacts on heritage assets, ecological features, and landscape character.
Further Considerations:
- Consultations with relevant authorities are crucial to address potential ecological heritage and landscape impacts arising from development which significantly lower the proposed development number of dwellings achievable.
DISCOVER THE PROPOSALS
Welcome to Our Website
We are developing plans for a vibrant new neighbourhood in Hertford Heath, located on London Road opposite the junction with Woodland Road.
Barclay Grange promises to be more than just a residential development; it’s a carefully curated community space where new homes harmonise with essential amenities and expansive green areas. Imagine strolling through lush, open spaces, where families gather for picnics and children play freely.
Our vision for Barclay Grange extends beyond housing. We’re committed to creating inviting green spaces that encourage outdoor activities, relaxation, and the flourishing of local wildlife. From the vibrant community hub to the tranquil green retreats, every aspect of this development is designed with the well-being of residents and the environment in mind.
These plans are driven by our commitment to help Hertford Heath fulfil its obligation to provide 84 new homes within the next 12 years, as outlined in the East Hertfordshire Local Plan. But this endeavour is about more than meeting quotas—it’s about enriching the fabric of our community.
We are now at a stage in the process where the Parish Council will need to undertake a new site selection, we want to hear from the community to ensure that we can bring forward the best possible scheme that reflects local aspirations for the site. We are committed to considering the views and comments of local residents to develop a plan the parishioners will be proud of.
What residents said at regulation 14
The site opposite Haileybury will inevitably lead to increased traffic levels on London Road at a point where it is quite narrow and has several bends with poor visibility when travelling from Hoddesdon. It will have the same effect on The Roundings, a narrow road, already used as overflow parking for the College Arms and visitors to the SSSI. In addition, the loss of the parking area in the “Horseshoe” will make the problem worse still. I am also concerned about the issue of light pollution from 74 new homes and the associated street lighting so close to the SSSI. There are no community facilities included in the Haileybury Site plan. I strongly believe that this is a golden opportunity to provide much needed improvements in this area. The London Road site opposite Woodland Road is the ideal place for the development as it has the space to meet our housing obligations and to provide additional facilities for all to use and enjoy. The proposal recently circulated by Bellway Homes appears to offer all of this and I believe the London Road site opposite Woodland Road should come out of the Green Belt and be allocated for the development.
— RM
I do not think the Haileybury site is best because it is on the edge of the village, separate from the main community. It might become a separate sub-community. There are no plans for extra community facilities which will be needed with a possible increase of 200+ new residents. The Bellway Homes proposed site opposite Woodland Road addresses all these problems and would also strengthen the argument for traffic calming measures in the village and a pedestrian crossing
— PS
I would prefer the Bellway Homes site as it obviously gives the village added benefits but these must be legally binding. It also sits on an area that seems more inclusive in the layout of the village and would not impact much on any existing properties.
— GJ
THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS THAT RESPONDED TO THE REGULATION 14 SUPPORT THE BARCLAY GRANGE PROPOSALS – THIS HAS BEEN DISREGARDED BY THE STEERING GROUP.
BARCLAY GRANGE IS AN OPTION
Have Questions?
Frequently Asked
Questions
Why do the Parish Council need to revist the site scoring and site selection when this was undertaken in 2018?
Following the neighbourhood Plan submission, East Herts District Council raised a number of concerns with regard to the Hertford Heath Neighbourhood Plan process and requested an independent review before proceeding further with the neighbourhood plan.
The findings of the independent Aecom Site Options and Assessment Report and Technical Note May 2023 identified significant shortcomings in the original site selection process, and public consultation. These include the premature exclusion of options such as Amwell Place Farm and Barclay Grange, whilst heritage and environmental constraints of the Haileybury site were disregarded by the Steering Group. These constraints present a major challenge to delivering the required housing targets.
The Steering Group received this report in May 2023, why have they not informed residents?
Open and accountable discussion is essential for maintaining the community’s trust in the neighbourhood plan and to ensure a process that is seen as fair and inclusive. We have written to the Parish Council to commit to following this guidance and ensure the process is conducted in full transparency with the community. Continuing to exclude specific landowners and community engagement risks undermining the integrity of the neighbourhood plan and could potentially be in conflict with the fair consultation guidelines of East Herts District Council.
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What are the options for delivering the minimum 84 homes within the village and will residents be given a choice?
To deliver the minimum 84 housing requirement in the neighbourhood plan, the Aecom report strongly recommends including four viable sites as potential options in future public consultations:
1, Amwell Place Farm
2, Barclay Grange
3, Haileybury
4, Land Behind Hertford Heath Motors
with Barclay Grange scoring the highest and being the only site that can deliver on its own, the full allocation of housing and community benefits.
Yes, Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. It is your plan.
Parishioners have expressed a clear desire for community benefits since the commencement of the Neighbourhood Plan Process in 2016, why have we not been consulted on the benefits each site can deliver?
The District Plan strongly suggests any removal of Green Belt should be accompanied by wider sustainability and community benefits.
In the spirit of a truly community-led neighbourhood plan, we have asked the Parish Council and in particular the Steering Group to now commit to a consultation specifically addressing the needs and aspirations of the community by fairly assessing the community benefits each potential site could deliver alongside the neighbourhood plan?
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Have other Neighbourhood Plan’s provided community benefits alongside delivering the housing.?
Yes. This was undertaken by Watton-at-Stone NHP, who took a proactive approach to delivering both the necessary housing and the essential community benefits identified by residents such as a new football pitch, village parking, open amenity space and a new pedestrian footbridge which are guaranteed alongside the housing development, right from the planning application stage..
The neighbourhood Plan commenced in 2017 when a Steering Group was formed to gather community views, how do we contact them and who are they?
In the interest of transparency and accountability, and to better address any concerns from the community, we have asked the Parish Council to make public the names and contact information for the members of the steering group, given that the original HHNHP website has now been integrated into the Hertford Heath Parish Council Website.
Seeking further information?
Reach out to us, email us on info@barclaygrange.com.
