Planning Update

WH Smiths at Bushey Station

WH Smiths has applied to open a shop at the vacant unit at Bushey station. Whilst we are sure that many residents will welcome this, we do have concerns about the proposed opening hours. They want to open the shop from 05:00 – 23:00 Monday to Saturday, and 07:00 – 23:00 Sunday. They have applied for a license to sell alcohol from 7:00 to 23:00 Monday – Sunday.

Cllr Peter Taylor has contacted the council’s licensing team to suggest that an opening time of 6:00 would be more appropriate. The Costcutter over the road opens at 6:30. He has also suggested that the sale of alcohol should end at 10pm.

Any person or business may object to this application as long as their objection refers to how this application will or may impact on the licensing objectives of the crime prevention, public nuisance, public safety and child protection. Objections on any other grounds can not be accepted. Peter’s objections were on the grounds of public nuisance. If you would like to suggest changes to the current proposal you should email Austin Young by the end of this week (austen.young@watford.gov.uk).

8 – 12 Chalk Hill (Massy Site) 

Developers have once again submitted a planning application for this site. This comprises 121 residential units made up of 5 x 3 bed houses, 100 x 2 bed flats, 12 x 1 bed flats and 4 x 3 bed flats together with a public car park comprising 52 car spaces, a residents car park comprising 150 spaces and 50 cycle spaces provided on site. We are of course concerned about the impact this would have on the already congested roads at Bushey Arches.

Planners are awaiting a report from Herts Highways regarding the access to this site. Highways concerns have prevented the application from progressing in the past. Full details of the application can be found here and residents can email their objections to developmentcontrol@watford.gov.uk quoting reference 15/00115/OUTM.

26 – 30 Aldenham Road – Tile Depot and Harp Windows Showroom

Over the summer developers submitted plans to replace the Tile Depot and Harp Windows showroom with 8 flats and a ground floor “retail space”. Full details here. Just 6 parking spaces are proposed for the residents and none for the retail space.

Local councillors have been in touch with planning officers to raise concerns about the lack of parking provision and the impact this would have on local roads. Given the problems at Attenborough Court of properties flooding, and the fact that the car park at this location also floods, we have also been asking if these problems will not simply be repeated. Residents can email their objections to developmentcontrol@watford.gov.uk quoting reference 15/00948/FUL.

Source: Oxhey opinion