Frequently asked questions about the proposals.
Why this location?
Dacorum Borough Council currently do not have a five-year housing land supply which means they need to find sites to provide homes for the borough. This site is an excellent location for development as it is an established previously developed site as encouraged and supported in both national and local planning policies.
The site has been heavily used for commercial purposes, especially film and television storage. Due to changes within the film and television industry, the demand for the space is in decline, and a new use/future is required for the site.
The site benefits from being close to various amenities, such as local schools and the town centre and is easily reachable by bicycle or public rights of way.
What will be built?
Haresfoot Limited has submitted a planning application to provide 59 high-quality new homes with affordable housing, a community hub building, off site highway improvements with associated parking and new, publicly accessible open green space.
How will the site be accessed?
The site will be accessed from White Hill and improvement will be made to the access road to meet highways standards and Hertfordshire County Council requirements. This access will be assessed as part of this application, with current surveys indicating that there are no foreseen issues with using this access point given the low traffic usage with little evidence of notable issues or accidents.
The site will also provide public access to the Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) land surrounding the site, which received approval at Committee and has a resolution to grant permission. We anticipate that this will include improving the Public Rights of Way (PROWs), increasing access to the site as well as pedestrian walking routes in the local area.
How are you prioritising sustainability?
Haresfoot Limited is actively looking to promote sustainability in development by minimising the impact of our development on the environment. The proposed development will provide sustainability benefits. This will be achieved by tackling carbon emissions, incorporating modern sustainable design measures, limiting heat loss, incorporating renewable energy and promoting sustainable travel and transport.
The scheme will also enhance the existing biodiversity of the site by replacing extensive amounts of the existing hardstanding with landscaping and green spaces.
How are you supporting sustainable transport?
Hertfordshire County Council were supportive of the previous proposals on the site and the revised application further enhances the sustainable transport measures being provided on site despite the reduction in unit numbers. Hertfordshire’s main transport policies require the implementation of infrastructure that improves accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and mass (public) transport use.
The proposals will encourage sustainable travel methods through cycling and walking, which will connect to the surrounding pedestrian network, including the existing public right of way to the north of the site.
The proposals will also include electric charging points to promote electric car usage on the development. Additionally, the scheme will also provide electric bikes to residents living on the development.
What is the Community Hub?
Given that Haresfoot Limited is committed to sustainable travel and given the changes in working arrangements, this site will be providing a Community Hub, which can be used by those living on the development. This will be used as office space residents for hot desking as well as a community centre for local residents. Haresfoot Limited is also exploring options for the provision of electric bikes for residents living on the development also.