The Three Rivers Local Plan Sub-Committee met on August 24 to finalise housing targets in Rickmansworth and the surrounding areas.
The government had previously set a goal of 11,466 new dwellings. However, in December of last year, TRDC agreed to focus on a reduced figure and look at sites in areas of low- or moderate-harm green belt for residential development in order to provide for future growth and infrastructure needs.
The new figure, as recommended in the meeting, is 4,852 new homes. If approved by the government, nearly 98 per cent of the existing designated green belt of Three Rivers will be protected.
Rickmansworth sites put forward for development include land to the west and south of Maple Cross, with TRDC seeking to restrict developments to no more than 850 homes from a suggested 1,676.
A further 550 homes would be developed on land to the south of Shepherds Lane and east of the M25.
Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Deputy Leader of TRDC and the lead member for the Local Plan, said: “We have listened to residents’ views, worked very hard with the Joint Residents’ Association, representing all of the residents’ groups across Three Rivers, to come up with the right plan for the right number of housing in the right places that protects as much of our green belt as possible but allows for some new housing for future generations.
“We will now consult residents on this new, drastically different approach than the government wants. We know it’s a high risk not submitting a plan based on the required government numbers. We know, despite the words of ministers, they have still not changed planning polices to allow us to put forward lower housing numbers. They say they will, so this effectively calls their bluff. Either they agree that local views matter and this plan is supported, or they impose the 11,455 figures on us.”
The proposal will now be considered at a Full Council meeting on October 17 prior to full public consultation.
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