Swing Gate Lane Development

So now we know – they do want  to create another Hemel and they  consider that  to be an  “enhancement” of Berkhamsted – from their  website

  • “Enhancing Berkhamsted’s Status and Function: Berkhamsted is the second largest settlement in the borough in terms of population size and the level of services, facilities and retail provision. In order to sustain the longer term functionality and vitality of the town, its overall status within the borough should be enhanced in a complementary role to at Hemel Hempstead. The only way this can happen, is through new development that allows for social and transportation infrastructure provision and investment to the town for the future.”

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Grand Union Investments are proposing a development of 1000 homes at the top of Swing Gate Lane. This is in addition to the 1200 homes in the core strategy. They will be presenting their proposals between noon and 7pm on 7th July in the civic centre.

There will be other presentations at Thomas Coram School and Northchurch Parish Hall – YOUR CHANCE TO FIND OUT MORE AND MAKE SURE YOUR VIEWS ARE HEARD!
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June 23rd -SYBRA contacted BTC Clr Ian Reay for his views :-


“Thank you for alerting me to this. I was not aware that such presentations were taking place. The Town Council has not been informed, neither have I been informed as a borough councillor.

GUI asked to meet with the Town Council to inform us of their plans which we did several months ago and we made it quite clear to them that we opposed them completely, as has the Borough. They do not form part of the Core Stategy and DBC had explicitly rejected them. Nevertheless, GUI is well funded and they are determined to take their case to the Inspector at the Examination in Public when it takes place – probably next year. They have been doing a number of surveys of traffic and such like across the town to gather evidence to support their proposals. I know that GUI have also been talking to several “representative” groups across the town, including Ashlyns School and the Berkhamsted Citizens’ Association. They may have concluded that they can now present them to the public at large.

I would guess that these are the same or similar proposals thet GUI or its predecessor submitted oto the RSS. They were of course rejected at that time.

I hope as many people as possible will attend and make their views known.”

Clr Reay has also requested that a statement be made in his absence at next Monday’s (27th June) council meeting.

“I have asked that a statement be made at next Monday’s Town Council meeting about this (I won’t be there as I am away on holiday next week) and also suggested that Laurence Handy, as Chairman of Planning at the Town Council write to the Gazette with the position. I have already alerted all town councillors to this event and I am sure many will attend.”

SYBRA wll be meeting with Quattro [PR company for GUI] following the public presentations.

  • From presentations that they have already made to local interest groups GUI/Quattro are presenting this as a very “fluffy” development – Sustainable, Eco friendly, Community Facilities, Bus Services, School, Medical centre etc – all very laudible but it is still 1000 homes – a huge development which will have an equally huge impact upon the character of Berkhamsted and its already creaking infrastructure!