This document contains the questions and the answers from the Bushey Forum meeting. Cllr Nik Oakley, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Infrastructure and Transport provided the answers.
Hertsmere Local Plan – Reg 18 Consultation Document: https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/asset-library/reg-18-final-document-27.04.2026.pdf
Some basic Q&A on the process itself is here – https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/planning-building-control/planning-policy/hertsmere-localplan/ new-local-plan/new-local-plan-frequently-asked-questions
Q1 : Green Belt between Bushey and Watford: Para 3.27 states. “A further reasonable alternative could arise in respect of how growth is delivered in Bushey. Future growth in Bushey could focus upon improving connectivity to the infrastructure networks available in neighbouring Watford, such a relationship could allow the settlement to grow as a satellite serving the Category I settlement to its immediate northwest. Higher levels of growth at Bushey could serve to fuel investment in necessary sustainable travel connections into and out of Watford. Given the apparent readiness of many of the urban extension opportunities that surround Bushey, this reasonable alternative could deliver at scale during years 6 – 10 of the plan-period.”
A1 : Extremely concerning (secretary comment). No real discussion on this point at the meeting. [suggest comments and objections for this suggestion and implication Bushey becomes a Watford satellite!
Q2 : Why are the Kemp Place and Rutts car parks in the plan?
A2 : HBC Asset Management have put all car parks into the Local Plan sites. They do not think they are returning enough ’in their own right’ as just a car park. However, in Bushey having a car park plus some form of building on the site is not going to work. Plus the major implication of impact to the Bushey Heath and Bushey Village community infrastructure and all our valuable shops, restaurants and cafes etc. [everyone must comment on this]
Q3 : Impact on Roads and Infrastructure? https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/asset-library/6.1-infrastructure-delivery-plan.pdf
Quote from the document about Bushey Roads: “AM peak hour observations: ─ Severe Congestion on Aldenham Road both northbound and southbound from A41 junction. This then leads to congestion at Aldenham Road/Little Bushey Lane/Bushey Mill Lane signalised junction. ─ Congestion eastbound and westbound on Bushey Hall Road leading into Water Lane. ─ Severe congestion on all arms of Bushey Arches Bridge effects access to Bushey Station. ─ Congestion on Coldharbour Lane northbound and southbound from Little Bushey Lane.”
A3 : No road improvements in the documents so comment needed. No schools in the plan. Bushey is in fact grouped with Radlett by HCC and any possible school would be in Radlett. Stated that Watford does not have a site suitable for a school! However, the secretary seems to remember Langley school off the A41 closing. HCC or the new Unitary Authority are responsible for Strategic Site infrastructure
Q4 : What is Reg18?
A4 : This is the first formal, early-stage public consultation in the process of creating or updating a Local Plan in England. Our opportunity to ensure a full public comment is given. The full document has 18,900 dwellings across the Borough when in fact 16,700 are required to meet the Governments current requirement for Hertsmere. There is a possible slight reduction to 16,100 stated by Nik Oakley. Approximately 1,000 are already committed and some 2,000 are expected to be ‘windfall sites’ (unexpected) The implication for Bushey is therefore approximately 2,600 at the Reg 19 stage – but lets see!
Q5 : Bowmans Cross
A5 : the Reg 18 document has 500 dwellings in this 15 year plan with a total of 7,000 possible well into the next Local Plan phase. Cllr Oakley stated she hopes that this can be increased for around 2,000 by the Reg 19 stage. This would then help to reduce numbers elsewhere. Vital we comment on this although its not Bushey but has a Borough wide impact.
Q6 : Harts Farm
A6 : page 270 – Land East of Little Bushey Lane – HBUSA SA4. Notice that this is not just the site where the planning application has just been refused (sure it just pending an appeal from the developer again) but also includes the house and equestrian centre stables and associated land.
Q7 : Housing Number, how is it calculated?
A7 : There is a government formula. In the last plan for Hertsmere it was about 12,500 but the current government has increased significantly to 16,600! Cllr Oakley highlighted Three Rivers who submitted a Local Plan with numbers much lower than the formula. It was rejected as not good enough and over 5,000 dwellings added
Q8 : Classification of Green Belt?
A8 : When planning applications come to committee at the moment our precious Green Belt is more often than no reclassified as Grey Belt and therefore open for development. We must fight for the Green Belt that defines the boundary between Bushey and say Watford.
Q9 : What are all the sites in Appendix I?
A9 : These are sites that owners of land and developers have put forward for development but have not been sanctioned as strategic by HBC to be in the Local Plan Reg 18 document. However they could be brought forward. As an example there are Brown Field sites, although small that could or should be included instead of our so precious car parks! The area around St Margret’s School was highlight as land we ‘would not’ want to be in the plan!
Q10 : Hertsmere Vision Document -Bushey – Key Themes & Priorities Report
A10 : The document can be found here – https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/assetlibrary/ 260331-hertsmere-bushey-draft-ktp.pdf This appears to be view of Bushey through rose tinted spectacles and the Local Plan does nothing to develop Bushey as a community. There are multiple housing developments together with plans to build on the car parks but nothing to develop the Bushey Heath, Bushey Village and Bushey North communities!
Q11 : How will the Strategic Urban Expansions be split between the key centres?
A11 : Cllr Oakley – the Spatial Strategy attempts to allocate the required dwelling numbers between the communities based on the size of the proposed sites. However there is no control as to how each site will be developed over the 15 year period of the plan, some might never be built.
Q12 : Building in Bushey over 15 years.
A12: The implication of the plan is over 1,000 dwellings being built each year for 15 years. Nothing like this rate of building has ever been achieved, more like 300 or possibly 400 each year. So in Bushey we have no idea as to the roll out.
Q13 : Candidate sites?
A13: Landowners and developers put forward sites for possible development and inclusion in the Local Plan. All sites are assessed by HBC and some go into the plan and others are as identified in Appendix I.
Q14 : Protection against Bushey becoming part of Watford.
A14: Towns are protected from coalescence into or by other entities. Whereas villages are not.
The next phase will be in Sept/Oct 2026 is a document called Reg 19. There will be a final consultation at this point as this will in effect be the “final version” to submit to the inspection process.
HOW TO SEND YOUR COMMENTS:
- HBC – online portal: https://hertsmerelocalplan.commonplace.is
- Email: to localplan@hertsmere.gov.uk. Make sure to include your full name, address, and specify which question or site you are commenting on.
- Post: Mail your written responses to the Planning Policy Team, Hertsmere Borough Council, Civic Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 1WA.
MUST BE SENT TO ARRIVE BY 29 MAY 2026