Representatives from Three Rivers District Council and residents’ groups met with South West Herts MP Gagan Mohindra to discuss the Government’s proposed new mandatory housing numbers.
John Bishop (pictured left) from Three Rivers Joint Residents Association, which represents 22 residents’ groups and council leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst (pictured centre) met the local Conservative MP for South West Herts over concerns about the numbers of homes Three Rivers could be forced to accommodate.
The council recently complete a consultation over its Local Plan, which was supported by 91 per cent of residents. The plan envisages fewer then 4,852 over the next 18 years while Government figures are likely to press for 13,300.
After the meeting a joint statement was issued by Cllr Giles-Medhurst and Mr Bishop. It stated: “We note that the Government is proposing in its consultation a mandatory housing number for each local authority. For Three Rivers, this would mean land being allocated for 13,300 new dwellings over 18 years.
“We believe that this number is excessive. It would mean the release of a substantial amount of valuable Green Belt land, including agricultural land, and be likely to cause high harm to the area given that 76 per cent of Three Rivers is Green Belt.
“The council has had all of its Green Belt independently rated and has rejected the release of sites that would cause more than moderate harm to the overall Green Belt.
“The council’s current Local Plan, which has been recently consulted on, has received support from more than 91 per cent of residents in its consultation. It allocates all available brownfield sites and a limited amount of ‘lower harm’ Green Belt land giving a number of 4,852 as being the best figure for new housing growth in Three Rivers.
“Given that less than 1,000 of these new homes can be accommodated on current brownfield land, we believe that the Government’s proposed new figure is excessive.
“Three Rivers District Council will continue to work on its the Local Plan based on its recent consultation until it fully understands the implications of the new proposals and any changes the Government proposes.
“In light of this, we met with Gagan Mohindra, our local MP, to discuss our approach and all parties agreed to argue the case for the lower number based on this.”
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