A county council statement that 62,000 new homes could be built in Hertfordshire in the next 15 years will be challenged by borough planners next month.

Last week the council published a report on housing capacity in response to a Government demand that 49,200 new homes should be built in the county by 2016.

But planning officers at Hertsmere Borough Council are concerned at the suggestion that land could be found for 12,800 more homes than is necessary.

The borough's head of planning, Richard Grove, is worried the Government could increase the housing target for Hertfordshire as a result of the county council's estimate.

"This figure is far greater than the regional planning guidance and it could give the impression that Hertfordshire has got additional capacity," he said.

Last week the county had intended to approve the report so that it could be the subject of public consultation, but it decided to defer making this decision.

Hertfordshire's ten district councils were concerned that they had not been given enough time to examine the implications of the draft document.

All of the district councils will meet with county council representatives during November to discuss the report, which is based on the findings of planning consultants.

However, Mr Grove said he believed that an estimate, included in the report, that Hertsmere could accommodate 3,570 new homes by 2016 was realistic.

October 24, 2001 10:20