Speak Up Hertfordshire!

What do Hertfordshire’s authorities think?

Hertfordshire’s local authorities will be preparing their response to the consultation over the coming months. You can contact your local borough or district council and/or the County Council to find out what response they propose to make to the consultation, and use those responses to help you in formulating your own views.

Prior to this consultation, the Hertfordshire local authorities have been united in their concern about the proposed increase in housing numbers, on top of what are already stretching targets within the approved East of England Plan. Last year the authorities sought expert independent advice on whether Hertfordshire could accommodate the scale of growth that EERA were then considering taking forward through the Review of the East of England Plan.

The authorities used this expert advice in formulating their own views on the level of growth that might be acceptable.

We recognise that some development is necessary given population growth and the need to provide more affordable housing for key workers. However, we need to ensure any new development is managed appropriately to minimise negative impact on the existing quality of life in Hertfordshire. The county is already overburdened, with infrastructure that is only just supporting current levels of housing growth. Any new proposals must go hand in hand with investments in roads, schools, hospitals and other areas to accommodate these new homes.

To see your local authorities’ response to the consultation in full, please click on the relevant link. Please note, these responses are unlikely to be available until mid to late November 2009.