The former Potters Bar Golf Course Site
Local Housing Need and Sustainable Development
- The Hertsmere Core Strategy was adopted in January 2013, setting the housing requirement for the plan period up to 2027 to provide at least 3,990 homes.
- The Core Strategy is now substantially out of date and Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC) is working on producing a new Local Plan. The latest consultation for the draft Local Plan in April to May 2024 set out the Borough’s plan for green, sustainable growth. It provided details as to how and where new homes, jobs and essential investment can be delivered, along with schools, health facilities and green sustainable transport measures. The draft Local Plan set out the following aims for Potters Bar and the former golf course site:
- Increasing the supply of new homes within Potters Bar (which has historic under-delivery of new housing), so that younger people aren’t priced out of the area.
- Focusing new development in the most sustainable locations, including the former Potters Bar golf course, with strong links to the town centre and railway station to the south.
- Since the 2024 draft Local Plan consultation, new national planning policy has been adopted in the form of the 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Amongst many other changes, it sets a new local housing need figure for Hertsmere of 1,034 dwellings per annum and now requires councils which are Green Belt constrained to review Green Belt boundaries in exceptional circumstances which include instances where an authority cannot meet its identified need for homes, commercial or other development through other means. As part of this process, the NPPF is clear that when drawing up or reviewing Green Belt boundaries, the need to promote sustainable patterns of development is key.
Providing Much-Needed Homes for All
- Help young people access the housing ladder, so they can stay and re-invest in Potters Bar providing a boost to the High Street.
- Deliver full mix of houses, types and sizes for all, including affordable, family, specialist and elderly accommodation, providing a balanced community.
Sustainable Location
- Easy walk to the train station and multiple bus services.
- On the high street, within easy walk of shops and facilities, new residents would help support local businesses and boost the local economy.
