Updated Sunday 15th February 2004
Housing Development In Hertford

Coleridge Park in Hertford

The size of Hertford continues to grow as new homes are built to satisfy increasing demand.

The number of households in Hertford is currently 10960, an increase of 1533 or 15% since the 1991 census (source: EHDC, March 2002). Only one in five of new homes is built on a greenfield site.

The largest recent development, currently still underway, is the construction of 218 new homes named Coleridge Park, on the site of the former Addis toothbrush 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. Adjoining the site is Kings Rise, which is accessed from Park Road.

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.

Sites within Hertford that could see new housing developments include the former council depot in Mill Road, the old railway sidings next to Hertford East Station, the former gas works at the end of Marshgate Drive and the site of the current police station in Ware Road.

Have your say and tell us what you think about housing in Hertford.

Future Development

The government has recently unveiled 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 local representatives. 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.

Studies have also highlighted the need for a multibillion pound commitment from the government for new roads, rail links, schools, health centres and other community facilities. This was highlighted in April 2003 when a committee of MPs criticised the plans as ill thought out and not fully assessed.

The District Council launched a six-week public consultation in November 2003 following a planning brief to increase the amount of residential land from 5% to 30%. more...

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

RPG14

Regional Planning Guidance 14 is a document issued by the Government Office for the East of England that imposes housebuilding targets on the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedforshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. A draft of the document was approved by the East of England Regional Assembly on 5th February 2004. The EERA is an unelected body made up of councillors from the six counties that constitute the goverment region of the East of England. Housebuilding targets for the region are set by central government, specifically the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Consultants working for the EERA are expected to outline in April/May 2004 where many of the new homes should be built in Hertfordshire.

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
30th September 2002
20th July 2002
1st October 2001