Policy information sourced from Three Rivers Core Strategy
PSP2 Development in the Key Centres (South Oxhey, Croxley Green, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Leavesden and Garston and Mill End)
Development in Key Centres will:
- Focus future development predominantly on sites within the urban area, on previously developed land
- Provide approximately 60% of the District’s housing requirements over the Plan period to include approximately 45% of affordable housing as informed by the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2010), Development Economics Study (2009) and Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment Update (2010)
- Maintain and enhance employment opportunities in the Key Centres but reduce over supply of office provision at Leavesden Aerodrome through mixed-use development including housing
- Recognise that the former Leavesden Aerodrome site which includes the nationally important film studios is anticipated to be significant in meeting needs for housing and employment through mixed use redevelopment. Specific proposals for the site will be included in the Site Allocations Development Plan Document
- Maintain and enhance primary and secondary shopping frontages within Abbots Langley, Chorleywood and South Oxhey District Shopping Centres and the Local Shopping Centre at Croxley Green to meet needs from existing and new housing development and to enable Key Centres to be sufficient in meeting local daily needs
- Provide for a modest extension of retail floorspace within the Key Centres where opportunities arise in accordance with the Retail Capacity Study
- Contribute to an integrated approach to improve transport, including public transport, and movement into, and around, the Key Centres and connectivity with all other centres in the District, and service centres in adjoining authorities in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London and to increase public transport patronage
- Promote development, infrastructure and services that will help tackle deprivation affecting South Oxhey (Ashridge, Hayling and Northwick wards) particularly in relation to improving access to education, skills, training and employment and reducing crime. Some improvements identified include the ‘Step Up’ building on Oxhey Drive which will provide courses to help people get back into work and counselling to people with mental illness. In addition the ‘South Oxhey Initiative’ involves engagement with stakeholders, the public and other technical work to produce a Masterplan to set out how future development in South Oxhey can respond to identified challenges. Detailed proposals will be included in the Site Allocations Development Plan Document.
- Promote development, infrastructure and services that will help tackle issues of deprivation affecting Penn Ward particularly in relation to children and young people. In particular, the Local Strategic Partnership is promoting projects to stimulate greater participation in local learning by adults and families, and are funding a project to target training in literacy, numeracy and IT in areas including Maple Cross and Mill End.
- Provide improved access to healthcare services in Mill End
- Promote regeneration in parts of South Oxhey to improve housing stock quality and reduce inequalities through the provision of targeted services in more efficient ways. This could include mixed use development consisting of new housing, offices, shopping and community uses. The ‘South Oxhey Initiative’ involves engagement with stakeholders, the public and other technical work to produce a Masterplan to set out how future development in South Oxhey can respond to identified challenges. Detailed proposals will be included in the Site Allocations Development Plan Document.
- Conserve and enhance the local distinctiveness of the Key Centres, particularly the historic cores of Abbots Langley, Croxley Green and Chorleywood
- Improve provision of, and access to, services and facilities, to meet future demands, specifically through:
- Highway improvements to A41 and surroundings in relation to Leavesden Aerodrome
- Improvements to bus services to and from Leavesden area including to the shuttle service from Leavesden Aerodrome to Watford Junction Station
- Improvements to bus services providing access from key centres to Watford Junction and Watford General Hospital/ Watford Health Campus
- Traffic management improvements to A4125 (Hampermill Lane)
- Provide a strategic cycle link between Croxley Station and the Ebury Way cycle route via the Byewaters estate
- Improvement of parking and cycling facilities at Croxley and Chorleywood stations
- Road safety improvements to A404 by St Clement Danes School
- Improve the range of youth facilities in all Key Centres
- Improve facilities and accessibility at Leavesden Country Park
- Maintain biodiversity and access improvements to Chorleywood House Estate as part of agreed management plan
- Improve access at Croxley Hall Wood
- Develop a play area in Chorleywood to address current deficiency in provision
- Improve facilities at Oxhey Woods Local Nature Reserve including the provision of an education centre on site
- Improve quality of and access to children’s play space in South Oxhey
- Improve outdoor leisure facilities for residents of Abbots Langley
- Provide additional neighbourhood policing and facilities in the Abbots Langley area
- Expansion of existing schools and/or provision of new schools meet identified needs in the Key Centres.
For more information please see the Three Rivers Core Strategy