An appeal has been launched to help find new sites in Hertsmere for housing, employment and green infrastructure as part of the Local Plan.

Landowners and developers are being invited by Hertsmere Borough Council to submit for consideration any sites they know of with potential for development.

Among the sites that could be submitted are those capable of delivering five or more homes, offering specialist care, delivering only affordable homes and accommodating offices, industrial, storage, or distribution spaces which would generate employment.

The council is particularly interested in sites on land that has been previously used for commercial or industrial purposes.

“We're committed to producing an up-to-date Local Plan that benefits our existing and future residents,” said councillor Dr Harvey Cohen, portfolio holder for planning at Hertsmere Borough Council.

“Only this way can we positively shape growth in the borough and reduce the risk of speculative developments, where the needs of local communities have not been considered.

“The first step towards ensuring our new plan is the best that it can be is to work hard to identify and fully investigate every site that could be available for development.

“That is why we’re launching this current Call for Sites and appealing for as many submissions as possible.

“We're particularly interested in available sites on previously developed land, known as brownfield sites, and sites that could help us meet our climate action target of net-zero carbon by 2050.”

The appeal comes after the council scrapped the current version of Hertsmere's new Local Plan following an extensive public engagement, in which 18,000 responses were received - the highest response rate to a consultation conducted by the council.

Work is now under way on a new version of the plan, which will guide development and influence how the borough changes in the short to medium term.

Respondents are asked to complete a questionnaire and return it with a map showing the site boundary to the Hertsmere Borough Council before 12pm on Thursday, December 22.

More information and a downloadable questionnaire are available on the council’s website at www.hertsmere.gov.uk/callforsites.