How Hertfordshire can drive UK growth and deliver sustainable communities

Strong demand for sites

With the exception of Watford, all local authorities in the county are in the process of updating their local plans. 

Some are further down the road than others – Welwyn Hatfield, Hertsmere and Three Rivers, for example, are about to enter, or have started, public consultations (the results of which should be known later this year or early next). Others such as Stevenage are consulting on proposed modifications, Broxbourne is undertaking a partial review, while Dacorum and Stevenage have both submitted plans for examination. 

Elsewhere, East Herts is currently assessing its five-year housing supply having seen its housing requirement increase from 1,041 new homes to 1,265 new homes per annum (rising to 1,328 new homes when the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 5% ‘buffer’ is accounted for). North Herts is also following suit, with a call for sites open until mid-September.

The focus for new growth

New growth is likely to be focused on areas of existing infrastructure such as the M1, A1(M) and M11. The A414 (which runs from Hemel Hempstead past St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford before ending across the border in Essex) will also be a focal point. 

That includes around three million sq ft of new commercial space alongside major new communities such as Harlow Gilston Garden Town and Hemel Garden Communities. 

There should also be more opportunity to bring forward appropriate strategically located sites within the green belt – delivering community benefits sooner than expected.

Active land market

Hertfordshire’s resilient housing market – together with robust underlying economics and good commuter links into London – mean that demand for land remains strong among developers of all sizes. 

For example, in the last 18 months Savills Cambridge development team has facilitated the sale of 13 sites totalling £160 million in land value – circa 240 acres of land with consent for around 1,650 new homes and 85,000 sq ft of commercial space. 

We have also consulted on three longer-term strategic sites with the potential to deliver 640 homes and have been supporting the delivery of much needed affordable housing across the county. 

This includes: 

• Advising key stakeholders including Hertfordshire County Council, the University of Hertfordshire, The Crown Estate and Homes England. 
• The sale of a 135-acre site at DeHavilland Park near Welwyn Garden City – formerly Panshanger Aerodrome – to Bellway. The scheme will deliver 860 residential properties – 30% of which will be affordable – alongside retirement accommodation, a primary school, community centre, retail facilities and open space 
• Advising Lands Improvement on the final phase of High Leigh Garden Village in Hoddesdon, near Broxbourne – including the sale of a 32-acre site with permission for 154 homes to Bellway. We have also sold a 2.2-acre mixed-use hub to Majesticare with plans to deliver an 80-bed care home, 110-place nursery, a 4,000 sq ft convenience store and an EV charging station. Overall, the 92.5-acre High Leigh Garden Village masterplan comprises 558 residential units (40% of which are affordable) and community facilities. 
• The sale of an 18-acre site in the village of Barkway in North Hertfordshire with permission for 140 homes to Redrow – with the housebuilder agreeing to contribute approximately £2.3m to the local community
• Chase New Homes exchanging contracts on the unconditional purchase of a 4.5-acre brownfield mixed-use site in Potters Bar – potentially including up to 265 homes and 26,910 sq ft of office and retail space.

Ambition for future development

According to Savills research using analysis from construction data specialists Glenigan, there are 245 residential schemes of more than 300 units currently in the pipeline for Hertfordshire – either in pre-planning, already within the planning system or where planning has been approved. 

While not all of these will be delivered, the desire for growth is clearly there – further highlighted at this year’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) when the Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Development Board (HIDB) outlined 24 development-ready sites collectively worth over £12.9 billion.

The government’s seeming enthusiasm for large development sites including urban extensions and new settlements, alongside changes to the NPPF, a pledge of more funding for affordable housing and the establishment of the National Housing Bank also present opportunities for investors and developers.

With a thriving economy spearheaded by cutting-edge industries, Hertfordshire is well placed to benefit from the government’s drive for growth and deliver much needed housing to create sustainable communities for the future.

Further information

Contact Joe Last or Molly Eyles