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Which sites have been put forward for development near you?

Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) is consulting on a new Local Plan. You can view the consultation here.

Part 2: Sites for Potential Allocation

80% of the additional dwellings set out in the potential sites allocation document are allocated to sites previously in the Green Belt. There are many sites of serious concern including:

CFS10 - Land between Millhouse Lane and Bell Lane, Bedmond - Open grassland

CFS19 - Land adjacent 62-84 & 99-121 Sycamore Road - Amenity Grassland

CFS18b - Hill Farm, Stag Lane - Agricultural

EOS12.2 - Land to the west and south of Maple Cross - Agricultural

CFS69a - Land at Carpenders Park Farm - Agricultural

PCS47 - South of Little Oxhey Lane - Agricultural

OSPF22 - Batchworth Golf Course

Part 1: Preferred Policy Options

Housing numbers

Based on a national ‘standard methodology’ for calculating the District’s housing need, Three Rivers must provide 630 dwellings per year, resulting in an overall target of 12,624 dwellings over the plan period to 2038. However, TRDC has come up with its own figure of 10,678 dwellings (1,946 already committed and 8,973 additional homes). It's not entirely clear from the consultation documents what the Council's alternative methodology is for this new figure. CPRE Hertfordshire has already published an initial assessment stating TRDC is accounting for an overprovision of housing due to the projections being out of date. The latest projections show a decrease in new households and therefore a reduced number of houses which should be planned for. The Council has failed to take account of local planning authorities' ability to challenge the Government's calculation for housing numbers and to restrict the scale of development due to planning constraints of an individual area.

Residents’ Associations across the district believe the Local Plan contains significantly too much housing resulting in unnecessary damage to our environment and, in particular, Green Belt.

Please sign and share the petition calling to reduce the housing target.

Affordable housing

The need for affordable housing is equivalent to 60% of the District’s total housing requirement (see 4.48 of Part 1). However, the preferred policy option states all new development with a net gain of one or more dwellings will be expected to provide only 40% for affordable rent. Developments delivering 10 or more dwellings should provide an additional 10% for affordable home ownership.

It is also stated that where developers justify a lower amount of affordable housing (which happens too often) the Council will seek to secure the preferred tenure split (i.e. rented accommodation over home ownership) as a priority over a higher percentage of affordable housing overall.

The affordable housing target should at least meet the identified need and be backed up by strong policies. Considering the extreme unaffordability of housing in Three Rivers and the poor delivery rate of affordable housing on recent developments, the Local Plan should be utilised to its fullest potential to hold developers to their obligations. Unfortunately, the current policies feel watered down and come across as pandering to developers.

Biodiversity

The policy options refer to biodiversity as an asset but mainly as a setting for development and opportunities for recreation and leisure. It includes the policy statement: "Development should result in a net gain of biodiversity value." However, no specific targets are set. Furthermore, no details are given for how a biodiversity net gain should be measured. The Plan requires clear targets and deliverables otherwise it is useless.

Climate change

TRDC declared a Climate Emergency in May 2019 and the Local Plan is the key mechanism for the Council to implement the requirements of this declaration. Although the objectives identify climate change issues in the most general terms, the policy options clearly prioritises housing provision and greenfield land development over such considerations. The proposed policies fail to take account of the need for carbon reduction targets and sustainable transport provision, amongst many other concerns, and a carbon reduction pathway is needed to meet national obligations for net zero emissions by 2050.

Your response

It's really important that local residents, who are familiar with the potential development sites, have their say to highlight if and how a site will have a detrimental impact on the community. Some sites have already been dropped prior to consultation as they were considered to cause "particular harm to existing communities and residents’ quality of life without providing compensating benefits to the community". This shows that pressure from local residents can have an impact on the choice of sites taken forward.

We also believe it is important to support sites that will have the least detrimental impact, that can deliver benefits to the wider community, and contribute to the overall vision of a sustainable and healthy district.

This is a draft version of The Plan which means that elements of it can still change before it is published. Alterations can be made based on the feedback received from this consultation or the findings of any emerging evidence.

We are seeking views from members and supporters in order to compile a comprehensive view of sites across the whole district. We encourage you to get in touch with your views. Please do respond to the consultation directly and encourage your neighbours to do so as well.

Update: the consultation period has been extended and now closes on 20th August 2021.

You can find a summary and our full response in the following news article

Sycamore Amenity Land – Protected

By ns | 31st January 2023

Following the inspectors decision to turn down the appeal for a planning permission on the Sycamore Road Amenity site, this has now been recommended to be removed from development. Chris Mitchell attended all the local plan meetings and ensured the officers had the inspectors report to show it should never be developed. Chris is very […]

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PETITION: Transfer The Green, Stones Orchard and the allotments to Croxley Green Parish Council

By ns | 26th January 2023

We are asking for The Green, Stones Orchard and the allotments in Croxley Green to be transferred from Three Rivers District Council to Croxley Green Parish Council. Sign the petition!  The land is enjoyed by many residents and it is already maintained by the Parish Council. The Parish Council maintains the land at no cost to […]

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VIDEO: Croxley Green Belt out of Local Plan

By Co-Chair | 20th January 2023

Good news! The District Council has decided that the proposal for 500 new homes by Rousebarn Lane will not be included in the Local Plan. Cllr Chris Mitchell says: “I have attended all the Local Plan committee meetings since being elected.  I have been able to speak up for Croxley Green and have been listened […]

Read More… from VIDEO: Croxley Green Belt out of Local Plan

Open letter: Disown the government’s ‘attack on nature’

By Co-Chair | 7th October 2022

Three Rivers Green Party and Green Party Councillor Chris Mitchell have written to all local conservative councillors, calling on them to disown the governments ‘attack on nature’. The full letter reads: Dear Mr Mohindra and Three Rivers Conservative councillors, “This Government has today launched an attack on nature” ~ RSPB England There is widespread anger […]

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Students want safer school commutes

By Co-Chair | 7th October 2022

Cllr Chris Mitchell was honoured to be invited to talk with sustainability groups at both secondary schools in Croxley Green. He said: “It is wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm of young people trying to grapple with some of the most difficult issues facing humanity.” One of their main concerns was how they could […]

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Every Little Helps!

By Co-Chair | 7th October 2022

Members of Sustainable Three Rivers persuaded Tesco to power their van refrigeration with electricity. Previously, the diesel engines were running while stationary, contributing to harmful air pollution. Russell Ball and Rosi Jordon, with support from Green Party Councillor Chris Mitchell, managed to get Tesco to bring forward their plans and install electric charging points at […]

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Backtrack on biodiversity

By Co-Chair | 31st March 2022

The Liberal Democrats have backtracked on the grassland management policy (also called ‘no-mow’). It was first put forward by Independent Cllr Alex Michaels and the Council agreed to turn 50% of non-leisure grassland to meadow. The policy called for a ‘cut and lift’ method to encourage wildflowers and pollinators. However, in March, the report showed […]

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Chris Mitchell gains support of ex-Lib Dem

By Co-Chair | 31st March 2022

As an ex-Lib Dem, who left the party and went on to serve as an Independent Councillor, Alex Michaels is supporting Chris at the election on 5th May 2022. “I am concerned about the Council’s poor performance on its environmental and biodiversity policies. Never has the District Council needed a councillor like Chris more than […]

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VIDEO: Chris and Andrew discuss new solar panels

By Co-Chair | 31st March 2022

Green Party members Chris and Andrew discuss the recent installation of solar panels on Andrew’s home in Croxley Green. […]

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What is going to happen to the Red Cross Hall?

By Co-Chair | 15th March 2022

Chris Mitchell presented a petition signed by 555 local residents to Three Rivers District Council on 6th December 2021. An inaccurate statement from a Lib Dem Councillor was read out and no debate was allowed. The Parish Council has written to correct this. You can read the facts on Croxley Green Parish Council website. The […]

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