Land North of Farm Way campaign back - amid 700-home plan

Miles Ponder first became involved in local politics when he founded the Land North of Farm Way campaign in 2018, which successfully sought to have the eponymous site removed from Hertsmere’s draft local plan.

Now a Bushey St James Lib Dem councillor, the Farm Way resident is having to get his campaign website back up to date as he confirmed he will be fighting the proposals.

• Campaigners protest after Farm Way site in Bushey put forward in local plan
• 700 homes plan for Farm Way green belt land in Bushey
• Major 1300-home development plans submitted in Bushey

Campaigners in the fields off Farm Way in 2018 when the land looked set for inclusion in the area's draft local plan. (Image: Kelly Moody)

Clarion Housing has confirmed it is planning to hold a community engagement event after the summer holidays before it submits a proposal for up to 700 homes, a primary school, retail and office space, a community hub and an 18-hectare park.

Campaigners fear that local infrastructure would not be able to cope with another 700 homes, which could put pressure on secondary schools and the local NHS while creating “chaos” by turning Little Bushey Lane traffic into a “nightmare”.

“It forms a natural barrier between Bushey and North Bushey, which goes into Watford,” Cllr Ponder added.

The land north of Farm Way. (Image: Mile Ponder)

“Bushey, North Bushey, and Watford would merge into one. I appreciate we need more housing but I don’t believe that is the right area for it.”

Councillor Nik Oakley, who is the cabinet member responsible for planning, similarly voiced her opposition to the scheme.

The Labour councillor said the agricultural land was taken out of the draft local plan for a reason and also highlighted its role as a green space “barrier” between multiple settlements, including her own area of Borehamwood.

“It’s a very unsuitable piece of land,” she said, adding that she was “disappointed” to find out proposals were in the works.

Cllr Miles Ponder. (Image: Mile Ponder)

A spokesperson for Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, Hill, and The Masonic Charitable Foundation (which owns the land) described the project, known as Compass Park, as a “unique opportunity” to deliver “much-needed” affordable, open market, and senior living housing.

It said the planned park would be Bushey’s largest and highlighted the benefits of affordable housing, a new primary school, and retail/office space.

“We are still at a very early stage in our design process but have begun to reach out to local stakeholders and our closest neighbours to introduce ourselves as the team responsible for this project,” the spokesperson said, adding that engaging with the community “is at the forefront of our minds”.

"There will be plenty of opportunities for local people to meet with us and discuss the designs as they develop.”