On July 4, 2024, residents of the Hertford & Stortford constituency will vote for their representative in Parliament as part of the 2024 General Election.
This constituency includes the area covered by the Gilston Area development.
Your Neighbourhood Plan Group asked the following four questions to all seven candidates standing for election.
- How do you anticipate being able to support residents’ ambitions to secure a high-quality development?
- Will you champion the provision, by the developers, the NHS and service providers like Thames Water, of the community infrastructure needed by the development?
- The community has prepared two neighbourhood plans (The Gilston Area Neighbourhood Plan and Hunsdon Area Neighbourhood Plan), will you support the delivery of these plans and ensure that the voice of the community is not ignored but properly listened to by East Herts DC and the developers?
- The green belt was released to provide housing including 40% affordable housing although this target has been reduced to 23% (loss of 1,700 affordable homes); what steps do you think you will be able to take to secure an increase in affordable housing for local people?
Below we publish their responses in full. We have listed the candidates and their responses in alphabetical order
John Burmicz (Reform UK)
1. How do you anticipate being able to support residents’ ambitions to secure a high-quality development?
I will fight hammer and tong for this. We live in a wonderful area and because of the housing policy of the last administration in EHDC, so much has been signed over for development and the developments that I have seen so far beggar belief. EHDC is short of everything. There are no real enforcement officers so the builders build what they like where they like. Affordable housing? Where is that?
I am willing to be proven wrong but I had the feeling that buildings were thrown up purely to generate Council Tax income. The developments that I have seen, particularly on West Road have been put up without much consideration for the residents already there from what I have heard and seen. The existing residents at the end of the original housing line should be talked to and asked for their views. Makes for interesting information. People who have been there for 50 years plus cannot open their bedroom curtains as they are overlooked by new housing (not my words). We ned to keep on at EHDC to get some of this sorted, especially infrastructure.
2. Will you champion the provision, by the developers, the NHS and service providers like Thames Water, of the community infrastructure needed by the development?
In my view, infrastructure should have been put in first. Once the roads and bus routes are laid on then you can start digging. Saying that there is a train station at Harlow town to cope with commuter traffic into London is useless. They say the same about Sawbridgeworth Train Station.
Don’t forget, all these developments seem to be viewed in isolation. This is a gross error. There are prospective developments in Hatfield Heath, Keksys Farm and so on that all somehow quote the same resources available to prospective purchasers of new builds.
The developers have to make assurances that infrastructure will be there prior to the start of any building. PAH can’t cope now. There are 000’s more houses going to be built. Then what? Where are the schools going to be? Where is the water supply coming from? Where is the power coming from? Gas supplies?
I will certainly do my utmost to get some sense into this argument as we will end up with a blob of houses running from Harlow to Bishop Stortford and possibly beyond.
Do we know what has been signed up for with the former head of the EHDC, the charming Mrs Linda Haysey?
3. The community has prepared two neighbourhood plans… will you support the delivery of these plans and ensure that the voice of the community is not ignored but properly listened to by East Herts DC and the developers?
I have not seen the plans for the area but if I can see them they I will be on the side of the existing residents to make sure that developments are where they should be and not just placed at random locations and that we don’t just have development for development’s sake. Unlike the current MP, I do actually live here and want to keep some semblance of the charm that our locality has
4… What steps do you think you will be able to take to secure an increase in affordable housing for local people?
The only way to stop this shift in agreed planned development is to halt the licenses to build. Are there any reasons given for the drop in the number of affordable houses? DO WE HAVE THESE IN WRITING? IF NOT, WHY NOT? You have to understand that it is not in the interest of the builders to put effort into low cost housing. Base costs are the same for a normal or affordable house. If I was a cynical person, and I am not, I would also suggest that Council Tax revenues from low cost housing are not returning the sort of revenues that EHDC is after. A blind eye to the developments? I may of course be completely wrong. Happy to be proven so.
Helen Campbell (Liberal Democrats)
1. How do you anticipate being able to support residents’ ambitions to secure a high-quality development?
High-quality developments mean homes of the right variety of type and size, ample green space and enhanced biodiversity, sensible road layouts with plenty of pathways and cycle routes linking roads into, out of and within the development, and the community infrastructure that means residents don’t have to get in their cars to get to school, go shopping, or seek recreation and fresh air. We need developments that are not ‘add ons’ but which have their own community heart so they become neighbourhoods in their own right, well-connected by bus links.
I know from talking to residents across the constituency that they are fed up of new developments with limited facilities, meagre green spaces, a lack of things such as play areas and, of course, the education and healthcare provision that everybody needs. Building developments like that doesn’t help with congestion and air quality, important issues that people in the constituency tell me are amongst their chief concerns.
Sadly, we have a top down developer-led planning system in this country, which does not allow the building of the homes we so desperately need to address the housing crisis while ensuring the infrastructure needs are met at the same time. This must change. Liberal Democrats want a much more localised approach that puts the power in the hands of the local community, not the developers.
We will:
Build the quality homes people desperately need, with meaningful community engagement, by:
- Expanding Neighbourhood Planning across England.
- Properly funding local planning departments to improve planning outcomes and ensure housing is not built in areas of high flood risk without adequate mitigation, by allowing local authorities to set their own fees.
- Ensuring that all development has appropriate infrastructure, services and amenities in place, by integrating infrastructure and public service delivery into the planning process.
- Trialling Community Land Auctions to ensure that local communities receive a fair share of the benefits of new development in their areas and to help fund vital local services.
- Encouraging development of existing brownfield sites with financial incentives and ensuring that affordable and social housing is included in these projects.
- Putting the construction sector on a sustainable footing by investing in skills, training and new technologies such as modern methods of construction.
- Making homes warmer and cheaper to heat with a ten-year emergency upgrade programme, and ensure that all new homes are zero-carbon.
2. Will you champion the provision, by the developers, the NHS and service providers like Thames Water, of the community infrastructure needed by the development?
Yes. As above, the right infrastructure is absolutely vital.
3. The community has prepared two neighbourhood plans… will you support the delivery of these plans and ensure that the voice of the community is not ignored but properly listened to by East Herts DC and the developers?
I will always support developments that meet the challenges described above, that help meet our increasingly pressing housing need, and that have local support.
4. … What steps do you think you will be able to take to secure an increase in affordable housing for local people?
Like many people, I was dismayed when the affordable housing element was reduced, under the previous Conservative administration.
To aid affordable housing provision, Liberal Democrats champion the maximum possible use of brownfield sites wherever possible, and a maximisation of affordable and social housing on those sites.
Wherever homes are built, we have committed to making homes warmer and cheaper to heat with a ten-year emergency upgrade programme, as well as ensuring that all new homes are zero-carbon.
We’ll remove dangerous cladding from all buildings, while ensuring that leaseholders do not have to pay a penny towards it.
We will help people who struggle to afford a deposit to own their own homes by introducing a new Rent to Own model for social housing where rent payments give tenants an increasing stake in the property, owning it outright after 30 years.
Nick Cox (Green Party)
1. How do you anticipate being able to support residents’ ambitions to secure a high-quality development?
As both your MP and a district councillor I would be in a unique position to lobby and influence from multiple directions and this issue will remain in my in-tray for as long as necessary.
2. Will you champion the provision, by the developers, the NHS and service providers like Thames Water, of the community infrastructure needed by the development?
Yes, I am doing so already, and will continue to do so.
3. The community has prepared two neighbourhood plans… will you support the delivery of these plans and ensure that the voice of the community is not ignored but properly listened to by East Herts DC and the developers?
If I have learnt anything during my time as a district councillor, it is to avoid the word “ensure”, but I am happy to promise that I will commit to doing everything within my power.
4. … What steps do you think you will be able to take to secure an increase in affordable housing for local people?
The lack of affordable and social housing is a national disgrace and I will be lobbying Sir Keir’s Labour government to tackle the housing crisis. I don’t believe that green belt releases should be the solution. I believe in better use of brown field, ending the abhorrent practice of keeping homes empty to increase profits, and by driving foreign buy to let investors and other property speculators out of the domestic housing market.
Josh Dean (Labour Party)
1. How do you anticipate being able to support residents’ ambitions to secure a high-quality development?
As planning falls under the remit of the district council and, indeed, this development requires collaboration between a number of local authorities, it’s essential that any MP builds a strong relationship with the local authority and residential stakeholders. That is exactly what I would do as our MP.
Labour wants exemplary development to be the norm not the exception and in government we will take steps to ensure that we are building more high-quality, well-designed and sustainable homes and creating places that increase climate resilience and promote nature recovery.
2. Will you champion the provision, by the developers, the NHS and service providers like Thames Water, of the community infrastructure needed by the development?
It’s important that the growth of our infrastructure matches pace with the growth of our communities – this is something I have advocated for in the past and something I would advocate for if I am elected as our MP.
4…. What steps do you think you will be able to take to secure an increase in affordable housing for local people?
We desperately need more affordable housing in our communities as well as social housing to hep cut the waiting list. Like you, I’m concerned that the affordable housing target has been reduced to 23%. Labour has committed to strengthening planning obligations to ensure new developments provide more affordable homes and changing the Affordable Homes Programme to ensure that it delivers more homes from existing funding.
I appreciate that I haven’t been able to go into as much detail as I would like at this time. What I can promise is that I will always seek to engage in good faith with local residents on this issue and, if I am privileged enough to be elected as our MP on 4th July, I will prioritise holding an open meeting with local residents so we can have a longer discussion about this development, their views and how we can work together.
Jane Maria Fowler (Alliance for Democracy and Freedom)
To be totally honest I was against the development from the start. We are losing far too much green space at an alarming rate as it is, and the amount of proposed houses to be built is huge and quite frankly frightening.
As you may or may not be aware I am very new to politics and learning new things everyday, so please forgive me as I do not have the answers you are looking for today and would have to do some research into the development.
If I was fortunate enough to be elected I would definitely support the community in all 4 points that have been raised. I am particularly saddened to see the reduction in affordable housing and I would really get behind a campaign to reverse this decision as the lack of affordable housing for local people is one of reasons I decided to stand.
Hopefully whoever gets elected will pledge to help you and oversee the development making sure that you their constituents are happy that the points raised have been successfully implemented.
Barry Hensall (Heritage Party)
I understand the importance of your issues, however because of the amount of mail arriving I impress upon you to read our Manifesto that I whole heartedly support / agree with and hope this answers your questions.
I do hope you will put your trust in us, as by voting for the old LibLabCon party will just mean all will just stay the same or worse.
Julie Marson (Conservative Party)
1. How do you anticipate being able to support residents’ ambitions to secure a high-quality development?
I completely understand residents concern about the impacts that this development will have on landscape, the environment, and local heritage and existing communities. We are so lucky to live in an area that benefits from both rural beauty and farming as well as fantastic connections to urban areas like Cambridge and London. This is not something that I want to see blighted by ill thought out and rash developments. I will support the residents’ ambitions to see a high-quality development built by delivering on the Conservative manifesto promise to make sure that local authorities use the new Infrastructure Levy to deliver GP surgeries, roads, schools, and other local infrastructure. I echo the promise that we will not allow these funds to be spent on projects that bear no relation to support for new homes. I have a track record of action in this area, as I have raised issues with the Secretary of State (including supporting three call in requests) and successive Housing ministers in order to make sure that the ambitions and voices of constituents are fully heard and reflected in projects like these.
2. Will you champion the provision, by the developers, the NHS and service providers like Thames Water, of the community infrastructure needed by the development?
Developments like the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town will not be successful without the implementation of community infrastructure that supports it. Residents living in the development deserve equal access to services such as healthcare and education. I will hold developers account to their promises to make sure that both the residents of the Garden Town are adequately supported, but also to ensure that the quality of life for residents of the surrounding areas is not disrupted. I have a track record of action and support and have always sought to represent constituents – and the Gilston Garden Town development is no exception to this.
3. The community has prepared two neighbourhood plans… will you support the delivery of these plans and ensure that the voice of the community is not ignored but properly listened to by East Herts DC and the developers?
Over the last 4 and a half years I have worked with local authorities in other areas of the constituency in cases like this to ensure that the voices of local residents are heard. I have been working to secure a solution at Rush Green roundabout near Hertford to ameliorate traffic issues. Similarly, I vehemently oppose the proposed commercial development at the St James’ Park site in Bishop’s Stortford, echoing sentiments of local residents regarding concerns of health and safety. I have also been pressuring Frontier to follow through on their commitment to build a GP surgery for the residents of Stortford Fields as promised, speaking in Westminster and questioning the Health Minister on this matter. I will do the same for the residents of the existing communities around the Gilston development.
4. … What steps do you think you will be able to take to secure an increase in affordable housing for local people?
As a nation, we need more sustainably built housing so the next generation will be able to work for the privilege of becoming homeowners. Since 2010, the Conservatives have delivered over 696,100 new affordable homes, including over 482,000 affordable homes for rent, of which over 172,600 homes for social rent. We will continue with measures like cutting stamp duty and government backed Help to Buy schemes, making it easier for local people to get on the housing ladder. We will renew the Affordable Homes Programme which allocates grant funding to Housing Associations and Local Authorities to help mitigate the costs of developing affordable homes.
