Council restricts housing on employment land

East Herts District Council have moved to restict permitted development rights on a number of industrial estates in the town.

Conbar House in Mead Lane has been converted from offices to flats

Earlier in the month, the Council’s Executive agreed to implement Article 4 Directions on 32 employment sites in the District. This will mean that permitted development rights no longer apply in these areas:

• Mead Lane
• Dicker Mill
• Caxton Hill
• Foxholes Business Park
• Mimram Road
• Wareham Lane
• Windsor Industrial Estate  (Ware Road)
• Pegs Lane

Permitted development rights were introduced by the government to accelerate housing delivery by allowing owners to convert types of commercial and industrial units to residential use without requiring planning permission.

A number of units in Hertford have been converted to housing, having been granted planning permission.

This building on the Dicker Mill Industrial Estate is now homes

Whilst in some cases this has sped up the delivery of much needed housing in the district, Executive Members have also been concerned that in some instances it has led to poor quality development and displaced viable businesses that provide services and local employment. Moreover, use of permitted development means that no contributions to the wider community or infrastructure (known as Section 106 contributions) or consideration of affordable housing is required.

Executive Member for Planning and Growth, Councillor Jan Goodeve said, "Introducing article 4 directions will ensure that anyone who wishes to convert employment land into residential has to apply for permission. This will allow the council to assess the overall impact on the local area before reaching a decision."