Policy information sourced from Three Rivers Core Strategy

CP2 Housing Supply

The Council will identify sufficient land for housing in the District to meet the Three Rivers housing target of 180 dwellings per year until 2026.

Housing provision will be made primarily from within the existing urban area (approximately 75% of total housing development between 2001-2026) and also from housing sites at the most sustainable locations on the edge of existing settlements, in the Green Belt (approximately 25% of total supply between 2001-2026).

It is anticipated that approximately 60% of housing requirements will be met in the Key Centres as defined in the settlement hierarchy. This is likely to be achieved in part through significant mixed use development at Leavesden Aerodrome and through regeneration in South Oxhey.

Specific sites will be identified through the Site Allocations Development Plan Document according to the policies and parameters set out in the Core Strategy and in accordance with the Spatial Strategy and Place Shaping Policies.

In identifying sites for future development, the Site Allocations Development Plan Document will set out an indicative phasing strategy for the development of sites. This strategy will take into account the policies and parameters established through the Core Strategy and will take into account the sustainability of each site, the deliverability of housing on the site and likely infrastructure requirements. Sites which contribute better to sustainability objectives, are deliverable, and will not have infrastructure requirements that will require a long lead-in time will be phased earlier than sites that contribute less well to sustainability objectives, are not deliverable in the shorter term or require a lead-in period for infrastructure provision.

The Annual Monitoring Report will set out the latest information on housing supply, including an assessment of whether there is a deliverable five-year supply of land for housing. The phasing strategy for sites will be reviewed annually as part of the Annual Monitoring Report process. Indicative phasing of sites may be altered having regard to the Annual Monitoring Report and up-to-date information on the delivery of specific sites. This may result in sites coming forward and/or sites being set back over the Plan period.

The earlier release of identified edge of settlement sites in the Green Belt will only be considered if:

  • The Annual Monitoring Report projects that there will not be a five year supply of land for housing
  • The sites can realistically be delivered in the short-term
  • It can be clearly demonstrated that the early release of sites will achieve significant benefits in terms of sustainability and other objectives of the Core Strategy
  • It does not unduly impact on other sites coming forward in accordance with the Spatial Strategy.

Amended sites will form part of the housing supply, and the housing trajectory will be adjusted accordingly. This ensures that there will be flexibility to respond to changing conditions and that there is a continuous supply of deliverable land for housing. It will also allow the delivery of infrastructure alongside new housing development, ensuring that there is not an undue burden on services and infrastructure to the detriment of existing and new householders.

The supply of housing post-2026 will need to be reassessed at a later date within the context of a review of the Core Strategy taking into account housing needs and capacity.

In assessing applications for development not identified as part of the District’s housing supply including windfall sites, the Council will have regard to policies and parameters set out in the Core Strategy. Applications will be considered on a case by case basis having regard to:

  • The location of the proposed development, taking into account the Spatial Strategy
  • The sustainability of the development and its contribution to meeting local housing needs
  • Infrastructure requirements and the impact on the delivery of allocated housing sites
  • Monitoring information relating to housing supply and the Three Rivers housing targets.

For more information please see the Three Rivers Core Strategy