Controversial plans to build 4,000 new houses in Three Rivers could see a number of new properties pop up in Abbots Langley. A local area forum held at Woodlands YMCA, College Road, was attended by planning officer, Renato Messere, from Three Rivers District Council, and he outlined the potential sites that new houses could be built.
One of these areas would see 100 houses built on greenbelt land on Woodside Road, which sits right on the border of Garston and Abbots Langley. Another would see a further 350 houses built on the greenbelt of Leavesden Aerodrome. The pressure to build more houses in the district comes from the East of England Regional Assembly, which in turn comes from Central Government. In total, the whole country needs to build three million new houses by the year 2021, with 83,000 of those expected in Hertfordshire. Around 1,600 of the 4,000 have been built already, and there is now pressure on the district council to find potential sites for the remaining properties. A packed out forum voiced their disproval to the proposed sites, which include a further 11 sites in Abbots, claiming that the area is already over populated and that new sites would put a massive strain on the infrastructure of the area. Several of these sites already have properties occupying them, which include Abbots Langley Men’s Club, The Breakspeare Pub and the Pin Wei Restaurant. Terry Lee, Chairman of Abbots Men’s Club, said at the meeting: “The first I heard of this was in the Three Rivers magazine and I cannot see how you can propose building new houses on sites that already have properties. It is common courtesy to contact us about an issue like this, but no one from the council has done so.” Three Rivers' Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Martin Trevett, said: “Too many homes are proposed for this district but we have no legal powers to stop EERA imposing the target. Despite the quota, we have worked hard to plan for development in the most environmentally sensitive way. Building will be phased in so that urban areas will generally be developed first in advance of Green Belt areas – and it will be done with as much care as possible.” Council planners have also laid out a range of environmental improvements including the protection and joining up of wildlife habitats, providing new children’s play areas and new green spaces together with providing more cycle tracks. Proposed economic development includes promoting local employment and keeping shopping local. Service expansion plans include improved policing facilities and transport. The document proposes that 45% of homes must be affordable.” Cllr Trevett added: “While we condemn the total housing quota that has been imposed on the district it is important to consider future generations - not only in protecting the environment but also in providing affordable homes. We are proposing that nearly half of new homes are affordable so that the young adults who have grown up here can choose to live and work in their own communities. The proposed locations have been thoroughly researched as the best options but nothing is set in stone - please do make your voice heard.” One thing that did seem to disturb a number of people at the meeting was that Abbots Langley has been sited as potentially housing 50-60% of the overall number of properties in Three Rivers. A display and an information stall can be seen at Abbots Langley library. The full 200 page Local Development Strategy is also available from the above venue and at the events. The deadline for responses is 30 March 2009.
Controversial plans to build 4,000 new houses in Three Rivers could see a number of new properties pop up in Abbots Langley. A local area forum held at Woodlands YMCA, College Road, was attended by planning officer, Renato Messere, from Three Rivers District Council, and he outlined the potential sites that new houses could be built.