This neighbourhood sits on the cusp of Northaw and Cuffley - two villages in Hertfordshire that are as quaint as one would imagine. Easily accessed via the Cuffley railway station, families are drawn to the neighbourhood for the large Tudor-style homes, equipped with vast private yards and driveways. While it might not be as affordable as some of the other suburbs, it beats London prices. With the plethora of greenery and tight knit community feeling, it’s unlike anything you would find living in the city. That’s not to say that there’s nothing going on in town though! Locals love meeting for drinks at Two Brewers, and a quality roast at Judges. This neighbourhood is truly London Suburbia meets English countryside, which, for many, is the best of both worlds.

The neighbourhood of Northaw dates back to 1793 when it served as a manor for the monks of St.Albans. Eventually, by the 16th century, the estate was granted to Earl of Warwick. Although he went on to build the Nyn Palace on this site, the land was eventually passed onto the Leman family, leaving the earl’s buildings to be demolished. Later on, during the 19th century, the neighbourhood began to grow as farmers moved into the area. This led to the building of cottages and schools throughout the area. Once the Cuffley railway station opened in 1910, development really started to pick up. Following WWII, with many in need of housing, a good portion of the remaining farms were converted into homes. Even today though, the area has retained its serene village feel.

The chief executive of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy, lives in an isolated mansion in the Cuffley section of the neighbourhood. Despite his being a part of the community, the residents protested to shut down a proposal to convert a former pub into a Tesco.

This part of Northaw and Cuffley has a high street, but lacks the interesting independent shops that so many suburban neighbourhoods celebrate. Residents don’t mind this though, and are able to get everything that they need in the area.

Despite this area’s overwhelmingly rural character, the Northaw and Cuffley Parish Council neighbourhood plan addresses the need for new homes in the area. As Northaw is completely consumed by the greenbelt, much of this housing need is expected to be fulfilled by projects in Cuffley, which has some exemptions from greenbelt prescriptions. Still, anxiety about overdevelopment is the cause of intense local debate, with plans for 121 new homes in Cuffley debated for over six years before eventually gaining the backing of the required number of councillors. Elsewhere, the land around Northaw House has been earmarked for regeneration. However, working with the local authority and English Heritage, LW Developments has submitted a planning application for the conversion of the listed buildings along with new-build enabling development within the estate. However, considering the sites significance to the area’s local many believe this project is unlikely to go ahead.