Oliver has welcomed Hertsmere Borough Council’s decision not to proceed with its draft Local Plan. 

Council leaders have announced that, following the end of the consultation period and full consideration of residents’ comments, they will not be proceeding with the draft plan in its current form. They will instead draw up a new plan, which will place more focus on protecting the borough’s green spaces. 

This decision was taken following a record 20,000 responses from Hertsmere residents, with many expressing their concerns about the plan to build 12,160 homes over the Local Plan period and the effect of this on the green belt. 

Oliver said: 'I welcome the council’s decision not to proceed with the draft Local Plan, following an unprecedented response from Hertsmere residents. 

Throughout the Local Plan process, I have urged residents to engage with the council’s consultation and I have frequently raised with councillors the scale of concern about the number of houses in the plan, as well as my own fears about the impact of this on the green spaces in the borough. 

I am delighted that so many residents engaged with the consultation, and that the council has listened and made the decision not to proceed with the plan in its current form. I think it is right that councillors look again at how best to deliver new houses in the borough and draw up a new plan which places the protection of green spaces at its heart.  

Meanwhile, I will continue my campaign to get the Housing Department to reconsider its approach to Hertsmere, where it is hugely difficult to meet housing targets without damaging the beautiful green spaces which make our area such a wonderful place to live.'