Updated Saturday 20th July 2002
Housing Development In Hertford

Coleridge Park in Hertford

The size of Hertford continues to grow as new houses are built, although only one in five of new homes is built on a greenfield site.

The number of households in Hertford is currently 10960, an increase of 1533 or 15% since the 1991 census (source: EHDC, March 2002).

The largest recent development, currently still underway, is the construction of 218 new homes named Coleridge Park, on the site of the former Addis tootbrush factory in Ware Road. This includes planning permission for change of use, the site having been previously designated as industrial.

The development, which has pedestrian access includes affordable housing, underground parking, a gym and a children's play area. A water feature including a fountain and stream also forms part of the site which was levelled in Summer 2000. For more pictures of the site go to go to our In Pictures section.

Other new housing developments that have recently been completed include new homes in the town centre next the the Friends Meeting House in Railway Street (Providence Place), a small number of flats in Church Street and mixed homes on the site of the former East Herts Hospital in Stanstead Road. At least a quarter of these homes should be affordable housing for people on local authority waiting lists.

Future Development

The government has recently announced new plans for housebuilding in England, with specific focus on the South-East. This includes proposals for expansion in the London-Cambridge-Stanstead "triangle". It is unclear how this might effect Hertford, but proposals for the region have been described as "frightening" and "alarming" by some. The lack of sustainable growth and accompanying infrastructure programmes has also given rise to serious concerns. One Hertfordshire MP has predicted "the mother and father of all campaigns" should government plans be pursued.

The HSP covers a 15 year period and includes plans on housebuilding in the county. more...

SERPLAN

The South East Regional Planning Conference (SERPLAN) is an organisation that represents local authorites in the South East, including Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire. Herts County Council subscribes to SERPLAN at an annual cost of £53,000 to represent its' views.

From The Archive: Housing Development in Hertford
1st October 2001