Addressing the need for a long term use that will benefit the whole community.
Overview
Twelve hectares of commercial use
The site is located south of Berkhamsted, with the vehicular access point off White Hill to the development.
Haresfoot Farm is around 12 hectares in size and was formerly a cattle farm. It currently has a mix of different uses, including light industrial, film and television production storage and equestrian and has been used for these purposes rather than in farm use for a number of years. Now only 35% of the building are being let, with the rest currently vacant.
The site contains several large buildings with significant hardstanding and external storage. The proposed development includes the demolition of existing buildings, meaning a reduction in noise and pollution levels, and a reduction of heavy vehicles due to the ending of the existing commercial use on site.
Storage space and facilities
The existing site amongst other uses is primarily used for storage purposes for film and entertainment industry. Recent economic conditions have been challenging for the film and entertainment industry and ongoing issues, including the ‘Writers Strike’ in the USA, have led to a reduction in demand for the site’s industrial storage spaces. Demand for storage space locally has been reduced further by new local studio spaces opening which have their own storage facilities. There is a need to find a new long term use for this site, offering the opportunity to deliver a high-quality housing development which is sympathetic to its surroundings by improving both the site’s overall quality and the openness of its setting.
Connections and the surrounding area
The site is well located to existing local amenities. Berkhamsted Pre prep school is approximately 350 metres west of the site, while Ashlyns School is approximately a 1.2km walk to the north. The site benefits from local connections, with various amenities connected through public rights of way by foot or by bike into Berkhamsted Town Centre. The site also provides convenient access from the southern side of the A41. Substantial new transport Improvements are also proposed as part of the application.
The site is also bounded by woodland located to the southeast, with the land surrounding the site having received approval at Committee and has a resolution to grant permission for change of use from agricultural land to a Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG), which will become a new public open space for local people to enjoy, reducing visitor pressure on the Chiltern and Beechwood SAC (Special Area of Conservation).
Further information can be found on Dacorum Borough Councils Planning Portal under reference 23/02508/MFA.
The proposal to develop Haresfoot Farm will not be affected by the SANG and has been designed to sensitively integrate with it.
