Land use
Land use in Hertfordshire generally comprises small and medium sized towns set within a rural landscape and joined with good transport links, which contribute towards a high quality of life. However achieving this balance is difficult, particularly so with new demands for housing and associated infrastructure. Such pressures mainly concern Hertfordshire's largest towns (population of 7,000 plus) and so form the basis for this report. The towns are outlined on the map below and currently account for 13% of the land area of Hertfordshire.
Indicator LU1 - Land Used for Urban Activities
The map and table show land use change to urban activities between April 2004 and the end of March 2005. This change is recorded when the development is first started. This period has seen a total of 32.63 hectares of change, the highest total since April 2001 and almost double that for the Year 2003/4 (17.65 ha.). Again development continues to be mostly residential, in fact since 1995, every year except 1996/7 has seen housing as the main component of change.
Development for housing has started at Canada Fields in Cheshunt (2.93 hectares) and continued through the final phases at North East Stevenage (7.58 hectares). Over 55% of the change in the County this year, is accounted for by development at Napsbury Hospital, 18.16 hectares, adding nearly 10% to the urban area of London Colney.
The only extension of an urban area for employment use was the development of a warehouse at Royston Business Park.
Land use change to Urban Activities by town 2004-5:
| Town | Change 04/05 (ha) | % Town change | Urban Area 2005 (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshunt | 2.93 | 0.40 | 727.31 |
| Harpenden | 0.16 | 0.02 | 793.52 |
| Hoddesdon | 0.54 | 0.11 | 514.11 |
| London Colney | 18.16 | 9.89 | 183.55 |
| Royston | 1.42 | 0.35 | 400.79 |
| St Albans | 1.84 | 0.12 | 1596.50 |
| Stevenage | 7.58 | 0.32 | 2354.44 |
| Total Hertfordshire | 32.630 | 0.15 | 21308.13 |
Indicator LU2 - Number of Households
The 2001 Census suggested that there were 420,650 households in Hertfordshire, and the County Council estimates, on the basis of dwelling completions, that this has since increased to approximately 430,000 in 2005. Population and household projections prepared for East of England Regional Assembly suggest that if recent trends continue there will be about 500,000 households in 2021, a growth of nearly 80,000 since 2001, equivalent to an annual increase of approximately 0.9%. This is a faster rate of growth than is expected for population, and average household size is projected to diminish from 2.42 in 2001 to 2.24 in 2021.
Indicator LU3 - Residential Development on Previously Developed Land
The Government is committed to maximising the reuse of Previously Developed Land (PDL) in order to promote urban regeneration and to minimise the amount of green field land being used for development. The national target requires that 60% of new housing should be provided on PDL and through the conversion of existing buildings by 2008. Between April 2004 and the end of March 2005, 78% of new homes in Hertfordshire were built on PDL. At the end of the same period, 71% of the new homes planned are to be built on PDL. Between April 2003 and the end of March 2004 82% of new homes in Hertfordshire were built on PDL. The table below shows the percentage gross development on PDL for each of the 10 district/boroughs in Hertfordshire.
% gross development on PDL in Hertfordshire:
| % Gross PDL | 2004 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Broxbourne | 51% | 46% |
| Dacorum | 94% | 94% |
| East Herts | 90% | 78% |
| Hertsmere | 100% | 100% |
| North Herts | 70% | 67% |
| St Albans | 93% | 99% |
| Stevenage | 64% | 78% |
| Three Rivers | 99% | 99% |
| Watford | 100% | 98% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 71% | 80% |
| Hertfordshire | 82% | 78% |
The Planning System
The strategic planning of Hertfordshire is undertaken by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), through the preparation of the East of England Plan. This emerging plan includes policies which will have significant implications for Hertfordshire if adopted in its current form. The county is expected to provide 79,600 houses by 2021, including development at four strategic growth locations. As such, green field/green belt land at Bishop Stortford, Broxbourne/A10 corridor, North of Harlow (In East Hertfordshire) and West of Stevenage could be developed for housing.
If confirmed by the Government, this development will significantly alter the land use in parts of the county and these changes will have a major impact. Housing will require supporting infrastructure (such as roads, utilities, community facilities) and there are likely to be potential consequences for the environment. Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Hertfordshire is how to deliver growth whilst limiting negative impacts on the environment.