Delivering a vibrant Community fit for 21st Century living
A community where beauty and amenities create an exceptional lifestyle for all
Barclay Grange
A summary of the proposals is provided below:.
At the heart of the vision is a commitment to creating a beautiful place to live that all residents can be proud of whilst providing an array of benefits for local people, including much-needed highways improvements and an abundance of community facilities and green spaces for use by existing and future residents. The new homes will complement and respect the unique character of the local area through a thoughtful design.
Housing
84 beautifully designed houses with a wide mix of sizes and styles, including affordable homes to purchase and rent, all nestled within a spacious green setting with ample parking and connections to nature.
Community Hub
A new community hub shaped by you. Imagine a welcoming community hub where you can grab a coffee, pick up essentials, and connect with your neighbours – all in one vibrant space fostering a social connection and local business.
Public Open Space
A vibrant community space where children’s laughter mingles with birdsong, fostering play, connection with nature, and a sense of belonging. This new green heart in the village offers five acres of possibilities: picnics, playdates, dog walks, and a chance to reconnect with the natural world for everyone to enjoy.
Village Car Park
A car park with electric charging points which can be used by village residents and visitors including village hall users, allotment users and the football teams, eliminating daily hassles and promoting accessibility.
Traffic Calming
Improve community safety and access with a pedestrian crossing on London Road, connecting residents to essential services, bus stop, allotments, and offering traffic calming benefits, fostering a calmer and more pleasant village atmosphere.
New Safe Crossing
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.
The Master Plan
The indicative masterplan shows the proposed location of the new homes, community hub, village car park, public open spaces and vehicle and pedestrian access points.
Background
In 2018, East Hertfordshire District Council adopted its Local Plan. This is a document designed to plot the future growth of the district, including Hertford Heath. As part of this plan, the village has been identified as needing new housing to support future growth. However, the District Plan strongly suggests any removal of Green Belt should be accompanied by wider sustainability and community benefits, such as those provided by our proposals.
The decision of where these homes were built has been delegated to the Parish Council. A Parish Neighbourhood Plan was subsequently drafted to identify sites suitable for new homes within the village.
Although the Parish Council identified a site known as Haileybury, an independent review has highlighted significant flaws in the Steering Groups site selection process and public consultation. They have been advised to revisit this as the preferred site has environmental and heritage constraints which were disregarded in the original site scoring and public consultation, and is now unable to meet the full allocation of housing to meet the minimum of 84 dwellings.
A new site selection process with public consultation will be required to determine the new preferred option.
Barclay Grange would provide the entire allocation on one site and address the village’s housing needs for the next 10 years. In addition to meeting local housing needs, the development would provide an array of benefits for local people, including much needed highways improvements and an abundance of community facilities and green spaces for use by existing and future residents.
An exemplar development
Our vision is to create an exemplar development fit for 21st century living, through thoughtful design and sustainability that balances sensitively designed homes alongside quality community facilities, enhancements to the local environment and improved access for the local community. We are committed to creating a great space to live, work and play for generations to come that reflects the character of Hertford Heath, whilst maintaining a sensitive relationship with its landscape setting.
All the community benefits come alongside the housing guaranteed, with a masterplan being developed with agreement with the parishioners as part of the neighbourhood plan. This ensures the proposed community benefits come forward as part of the planning application stage.
We want to engage with the community to ensure that we bring forward the best possible scheme that reflects local aspirations for the site. We are committed to considering the view and comments of local residents before any planning application is submitted.
A neighbourhood plan that delivers community benefits
Community aspirations
Our proposals are more than just homes. Careful consideration has been taken in preparing the plans which put the existing and future community at the forefront.
A community hub
A Community Hub shaped by residents. A community hub presents a compelling opportunity to enhance resident well-being and create a more vibrant village. Facilities such as a general store, community cafe, and childcare facilities etc have the potential to address resident expressed needs, promote local enterprise, and strengthen a sense of community belonging. This would improve the local alternative to travelling out of the village and foster a more dynamic community.
Village Car Park
As part of the Community Hub, we would deliver a 20-space car park for the community and visitors. This would help the shortage of parking especially along London Road, which is an issue many residents have expressed concern over. For example, when Hertford Heath FC are hosting a visiting football team, village events at the community hall, users of the allotments, community gardens and visitors to the Heath, our proposals offer them a proper place to park with a safe way to walk the short distance.
Electric Vehicle Charging
As part of the village car park, we would install Electric Vehicle Charging points to promote more sustainable and cleaner modes of travel. Currently, Hertford Heath has just one charging point with the nearest alternative located in the centre of Hertford.
Green open space for all villagers
Our development would retain the hedgerows and trees currently on site which would be enhanced with additional planting and landscaping to improve the biodiversity accross the area, The provision of five acres of green open space for people of all ages to enjoy will create a spacious and sustainable neighbourhood.
As part of the Barclay Grange development, we would build or provide the funding for an array of improvements which would enhance the safety of all residents.
A new crossing on London Road at the Foxhole Farm
A safe pedestrian crossing at the Foxhole 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 the Hertford Heath Neighbourhood plan. The aim would be to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists looking to travel sustainably to Hertford. Hertfordshire County Council have advised the Parish Council that a crossing is possible in that location which can be funded through a development in the Hertford Heath Neighbourhood Plan, if the Parish Council choose to persue this option.
A new Crossing in the village
Many residents have raised the danger of London Road where vehicles regulary speed. A new pedestrian crossing would be delivered to ensure residents can confidently and safely walk and cycle around the village. The crossing would provide a safe access to the bus stop, allotments, community gardens and new car park.
Traffic Calming measures
In addition to a pedestrian crossing, the development would provide essential road calming measures along London Road to further improve the safety of all those using the road.
Improving Access to Allotments and Bus Stop
The main access to Barclay Grange is approx. 200 m to the south of the access to the village allotments. Currently, the western side of the road between these points is lacking a pavement and is dangerous to walk along. As part of our plans, a stretch of this would have pavement installed to improve the safety of those accessing the allotments, community gardens and provide a safe disabled access to the bus stop.
Reflects the village character
integrating into village life
✓ Significantly enhancing biodiversity
✓ Protecting heritage assets
✓ No impact on (SSSI)
✓ Preserving all existing trees
The site lies on the main road, at a central location between two historic centres, which will integrate well with the Village’s community facilities, nature reserves and countryside walking routes. London Road provides an excellent connection to and from the village’s other resources and routes. We are keen to ensure that the new development will become an integral part of life of the Village community which promotes the vitality of the community which complement the Village’s current provision and to meet suggestions from the Neighbourhood Plan survey.
Enhancing Village Character
The existing green character of London Road is also a key consideration for the design.
The diagrams illustrate how this part of London Road will retain and further develop its unique charm. Key elements include preserving the beautiful, established tree frontage, incorporating extensive new planting for a lush feel, whilst fostering a sense of openness with set-back houses and generous green spaces, and strategically offering limited visual connections to community facilities to balance privacy and a welcoming atmosphere.
The introduction of new structural planting, whilst ‘softening’ the built-up edge of the village, would also enhance the landscape, visual amenities and biodiversity of the area by improving the local ‘green’ infrastructure and connections to adjoining wildlife habitats and have a positive effect on the adjoining Green Belt. An independent assessment has shown that the development of Barclay grange would offer a 70% net biodiversity gain unlike other proposals that show a net loss.
respecting the history of the village
The history of the village like Hertford Heath are visible in the very buildings which make up the village. While there are several listed buildings on London Road such as Rose Cottage, Highwood and The White House, these are located further to the south and east of Barclay Grange and would not be impacted by our development unlike other proposals. An archaeological assessment has shown that the Development of Barclay Grange will not negatively affect the area’s archaeological or historical heritage.
protecting endangered landscapes
Hertford Heath has an important Site of Special Scientific Interest which comprises of approximately 29 hectares of valuable lowland Heath. This type of land is threatened habitat in southern England and is particularly rare in Hertfordshire. The land has been damaged in the past and Natural England have designated a third of the land, the section by The Roundings as recovering. Our development would not border or disturb this important SSSI Nature Reserve, protected species or important priority habitat network unlike other proposals.
Preventing Further Development
We appreciate the value that the Green Belt provides and the important purpose it fulfils in preventing urban sprawl. The site has well defined boundaries which will be strengthened to prevent erosion of the Green Belt protection and prevents creeping development. Our proposals are the finished product not just phase 1.
What Hertford Heath Residents Have Said at Reg 14
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This is just a small selection of views supporting Barclay Grange. A full list of comments can be found on the Hertford Heath Parish Council Website: The Consultation Statement Appendices.
The London Road site opposite Woodland Roadis the ideal site to address both housing and community needs. Bellway Homes have issued a proposal that appears to offer all of this with less impact on the SSSI and safer traffic access. I believe the London Road site opposite Woodland Road should come out of the Green Belt and be allocated for the development.
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— JM
The alternative Bellway site is centrally located and offers a community hub for village use as part of its plan as well as significant off road parking. This is a lot more positive for a large increase in villager numbers The alternative Bellway site entrance is situated on a straight stretch of road unencumbered by sight restrictions or immediate turnings on the East side of the road. It also offers the inclusion of a pedestrian crossing and separate foot access points. Overall I believe the proposed Bellway site to the west of London Road near Woodland Road offers a lot more for the village and I would support that application.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— AIT
We are not in favour of the development opposite Haileybury as it would increase the traffic problems at the busy junctions near the Roundings and College Road. The alternative proposal by Bellway is our much preferred option . The location is more central to the village and the inclusion of community facilities and green spaces will be more accessible to the existing village community as well as the new owners.
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— DC
It therefore remains highly unclear why the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group are so supportive of the HH-H-3 site development. and negative regarding the Bellway proposal. – Substantially more clarity and public consultation is urgently required to allay fears that the two proposal are not being treated and considered equally..
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— IG
I have been a resident of the village since 1965. I feel that the planning aplication for the west of London road is crucial it has facilities for the village that will greatly enhance the village to the benefit of all concerned. The Haileybury site will not help the village it is a commercial venture for the school to make a profit. There may be a place for this development to go ahead but not at the expense of the much more valid London Road West development
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— JE
I strongly support the application from Bellway Homes to build on the land on London Road opposite woodlands road. This site should be able to come out of the green belt for this development, not the Haileybury proposal. Bellway include in their development the needs of the village which were clearly asked for in the first consultation. The Haileybury development does not. The Bellway development are proposing The community hub which is essential for the village , a children’s play area, extra car parking, new pedestrian crossing and road calming.
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— LC
Alternative site: I understand that there is a credible alternative site being proposed by Bellway Homes and the site owner. Based on the brief information I have seen, this alternative proposal may have some benefits compared to the Haileybury site, including the provision of community buildings. It seems this was one of the sites proposed during the Phase 4 consultation process and was dismissed based on feedback from less than 2% of the residents of Hertford Heath. Why doesn’t the Plan give the option of more sites and provide residents with an independent assessment of each site?.
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— AT
Policy HH-H2 and H-3 I strongly support the application from Bellway Homes to build on the land on London Road opposite woodlands road. This site should be able to come out of the green belt for this development, not the Haileybury proposal. Bellway include in their development the needs of the village which were clearly asked for in the first consultation. The Haileybury development does not. The Bellway development are proposing The community hub which is essential for the village , a children’s play area, extra car parking, new pedestrian crossing and road calming.
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— LC
I object to the proposed Haileybury site being included in the Plan and would recommend that the HHNP committee considers broadening its scope in assessing the best site for the future growth of Hertford Heath. Impact on listed buildings and SSSI: The Haileybury site is adjacent to three listed building and the Hertford Heath SSSI. I suggest there is a full assessment on the impact of any future development ahead of publishing a final draft of the Plan. Clearance of any potential conflicts of interest It is important that the residents of the village have full transparency on any potential conflicts of interest arising from the proposed development. Haileybury is a major employer in the village and, as far as I am aware, most of the properties bordering the proposed development site are owned by Haileybury and occupied by members of staff. Additionally, the current properties on the proposed site will be demolished therefore creating uncertainty for the existing residents’ future housing needs. It is extremely important that all Hertford Heath residents can freely express their views on the proposals irrespective of who their employers / landlords are. It is also important that each member of the HHNP committee should disclose all potential conflicts of interest in preparing and presenting the neighbourhood plan. In particular, it is important to disclose any relationship or link with Haileybury and any remuneration that may have been received from Haileybury for other services in the past.
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— AT
THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS THAT RESPONDED TO THE REGULATION 14 SUPPORT THE BARCLAY GRANGE PROPOSALS – THIS HAS BEEN DISREGARDED BY THE STEERING GROUP.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Why do the Parish Council need to revisit 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 as a standalone option.
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, 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 they 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. This was not undertaken previously.
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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.
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