Approval of the outline planning application at Harts Farm in the autumn could open the floodgates to much more than the previously cited 310 houses, primary school and hub.

This application is about the principle of developing the green belt and approving the two access points from Little Bushey Lane.

Residents are being asked not to be fooled by the plan in the consultation document circulated to a small group of houses by Redrow's communication agency. Each area on the map is prefixed by 'potential.'

Accessible open space and land reserved for a school is a fantasy scheme - nothing else. If the Hertsmere Planning Committee approve this scheme, the detail is reserved and 600 plus dwellings could appear on the site in a further detailed application.

Little Bushey Community are hiring both planning and environmental consultants to challenge the application and will be letting you know just how you can contribute to the fighting fund.

The campaign team lobbied Hertsmere Borourgh councillors as they arrrived for a full council meeting.

Most were happy to take one of our flyers concerning the objections to developing Harts Farm and a few were even prepared to chat. However, a number of Conservative councillors were brusk, refusing flyers.

Understandably, members of the planning commitee were guarded, as speaking out in favour or against an application before it is decided is regarded as predetermination and would prevent them from voting once the application reaches the committee stage.

Don't let the sun go down on Harts Farm, its horses and its wildlife.
Object to the building of 310 houses and a school by Monday 25 July.

An outline planning application for up to 310 houses with land reserved for a primary school, community facilities and mobility hub has been submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council.

The application was validated the same day it arrived on Monday 20 June, yet it has yet to appear on an planning bulletin suggesting a great deal of stealth on the part of the Council.

As with outline applications all appearance, landscaping, layout and scale is reserved until a full planning application is submitted. However, as expected the entrance will be on Little Bushey Lane.

Deadline for objections is Wednesday 20 July, but as it is a major development we should expect a wide area of residents to be consulted by letter.

You may object here, but we will be giving you some guidance shortly.

Developers, Redrow, who own Harts Farm fields have made a bid to Hertsmere planners in an attempt to avoid an Environmental Impact Assessment of the site.

In a report lodged with the planning department last week, Redrow have attempted to downgrade the site as of little environmental importance in order to make it easier to develop for housing and a school.

Environmental consultants, Stantec, state that there are no scare resources in or around the site that would be impacted by a development of 310 houses and a school.

Nor, despite the fields being a Flood Zone risk 1 site with some areas 2 and 3, the report claims 'measures proposed to mitigate the flood risk on the site, including allowances for climate change and will ensure that flood risk to the site and surrounding area from surface water is not increased.'

In respect of biodiversity, where we know there is a colony of pipistrelle bats, Canada geese and muntjac deer, yet the report declines to mention this.

The impact of construction traffic will follow 'best preactice' and traffic that will be generated by the development will be dealt with by a plan submitted with the planning application.

In concluding the report, Stantec state 'this screening assessment has identified that significant effects on the environment are not considered likely either alone or in combination with other development. The proposals would be of a sufficiently limited scale that effects could be managed in accordance with standard methods and best practice measures. The development is therefore not considered to be EIA development as defined by the EIA Regulations.'

The full report can be downloaded here.

Objections to this should be sent to planning@hertsmere.gov.uk