Policy information sourced from the Hertsmere Local Plan Core Strategy

SP1 Creating sustainable development

The Council will work with Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Constabulary, NHS Hertfordshire, Registered Housing Providers and other key local stakeholders to enable development in the Borough to make a sustainable contribution to delivering the Core Strategy Spatial Vision and Strategy. Accordingly new development will be required to prioritise the efficient use of brownfield land in delivering the land use requirements of the private sector, local service providers and the different needs of the hierarchy of settlements across the Borough. There will be a focus on prioritising development opportunities in Borehamwood but all existing built up areas within urban settlements will be expected to accommodate opportunities which arise for meeting local housing, jobs growth and other development and service needs.

All development across the Borough should:

  • ensure a safe, accessible and healthy living environment for residents and other users of a development;
  • conserve and enhance biodiversity, protected trees, and sites of ecological value in the Borough and provide opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement throughout the life of a development;
  • mitigate the environmental impact of transport by promoting alternatives to the car for accessing new development and existing development and other destinations across the Borough, and opportunities for linked trips;
  • be of high quality design and appropriate in scale, appearance and function to the local context and settlement hierarchy, taking advantage of opportunity to improve the character and quality of an area;
  • avoid prejudicing, either individually or cumulatively, characteristics and features of the natural and built environment;
  • minimise and mitigate the impact on local infrastructure and services;
  • avoid inappropriate development in the Green Belt;
  • seek the maximum level of Affordable Housing on site;
  • ensure a safe, efficient and affordable transport system that allows access for all to everyday facilities;
  • be constructed and operated using a minimum amount of non-renewable sources and be required to use energy efficiently, such as from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources;
  • as a minimum standard, achieve the required levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes for residential development and emissions reductions in line with the Building Regulations for non-residential development;
  • do not create an unacceptable level of risk to occupiers of a site, the local community and the wider environment;
  • conserve or enhance the historic environment of the Borough in order to maintain and where possible improve local environmental quality;
  • avoiding development in the floodplain and close to river corridors unless the requirements of the sequential and exceptions tests have been met and flood prevention/mitigation measures are in place;
  • incorporate the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) where appropriate and where required by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to help reduce the risk of flooding;
  • ensure that pollutants are minimised, including emissions to air, water, soil, light and noise; and
  • make provision for waste minimisation and recycling within the development during the construction phase and following occupation.

For more information please see the Hertsmere Core Strategy