Borehamwood and Elstree: Settlement overview and required infrastructure

Borehamwood and Elstree (the part of the built-up area west of the railway as distinct from Elstree village) is the largest town in Hertsmere with a combined population of almost 40,000 people. Borehamwood has good rail and bus links; the A1 runs north/ south adjacent to the eastern edge of the town. It is a location for many of the retail and service facilities serving both the town itself and the surrounding area. There is good quality, well-used open space across the town.

The town has an international reputation for film and television production with significant recent investment in the industry, including at Sky Studios Elstree and at Elstree Studios. Borehamwood is also a source of employment in other sectors including Research and Development, retail and communications, and IT.

Over recent years Borehamwood has seen a significant number of new homes, with the Elstree Way Corridor being a focus of residential led regeneration guided by the Elstree Way Corridor Area Action Plan (EWCAAP), adopted in 2015. A total of 895 homes have been delivered so far; there is an estimated potential for at least a further 685 homes on other sites. Other key elements of the EWCAAP include improvements to open space and public realm, pedestrian, cycle and bus connections with the town centre, highway improvements and the enhancement of facilities for the delivery of civic and public services.
Frequent weekday AM peak period bus services provide Borehamwood and Elstree with connections to areas within North London, including New Barnet and Edgware, in addition to more local services to Radlett, Shenley, Bushey and Potters Bar. However, these local services are less frequent, with no more than two buses an hour within the same period.

Elstree and Borehamwood railway station services the Midland Mainline to provide north-south rail links into central London via St. Pancras, and St Albans, Luton and Bedford. A small network of cycleways exists within Borehamwood, primarily to the north of the main shopping area. An oncarriageway, non-segregated facility provides a cycle link between Elstree and Borehamwood rail station and Radlett, however the network is sparse south of the A5135. A bike hire scheme was successfully introduced in 2022.

Both Elstree Village and Borehamwood provide residents with access to GPs and primary and secondary education facilities. Elstree Aerodrome is also located to the north-west of the settlement area and Elstree Studios is a key employment destination.

Key issues and challenges

• East/west road links with other parts of the borough are not so well developed.
• The growth in and around the town has impacted on levels of traffic (compounded by high volumes of through traffic) and an increased demand on local services including education and health provision.In terms of the community’s health and well-being, the Cowley Hill ward remains one of the most deprived in the county, as assessed against the measures used in the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.
• Delivery of new medical facilities/GP surgery
• There are relative gaps in accessibility for the local community to open space in several locations.
• The long-term effects of the Covid pandemic and collapse of national chains will need to be addressed through both the Local Plan and the council’s Economic Development Strategy.

Borehamwood and Elstree statistics

• Population: 39,765
• Built-up area: 3 sq miles / 7.8 sq km
• Population density: 13,232 people per sq mile / 5,109 people per sq km
• Population change between 2011 Census and 2021 Census: +1.1%
• New homes built in current Local Plan period: 1,739

• Proposed new homes: 1,655 (excluding 75-bed Care Home)
• Proposed Green Belt area: 19.67 hectares
• Change to number of new homes proposed in 2021: -24%
• Change to area of Green Belt proposed in 2021: -82% (including removal of Media Quarter proposal)

Required infrastructure

The Hertsmere Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) Phase 1 report and IDP Phase 2 report previously identified the following infrastructure upgrades needed. Infrastructure requirements for the Local Plan will continue to be reviewed before the plan is submitted for independent examination.

• Bus – The South Central Growth and Transport Plan includes a package of measures to improve the provision and attractiveness of bus services within and to Borehamwood, particularly towards North London.
• Active travel – The South Central Growth and Transport Plan includes two packages of measures, to improve the attractiveness of walking and cycling within Borehamwood – particularly along the Elstree Way Corridor.
• Primary education – Based on the higher levels of growth proposed in 2021, the education authority identified that expansions to existing schools or the provision of more than one new school is likely to be required. The exact approach to meeting new pupil demand is established within Part 2 of the IDP.
• Secondary education – Based on the higher levels of growth proposed in 2021, the education authority has indicated a need for a new secondary school within Borehamwood. A site was proposed by the Council, in 2021, south of Barnet Lane near to Stirling Corner. The exact approach to meeting new pupil demand is established within Part 2 of the IDP.
• Primary healthcare – Based upon the potential distribution of development around the borough, the Herts Valleys CCG has indicated a need for a new/expanded healthcare facility within Borehamwood. The CCG has agreed the case to relocate the Schopwick surgery from Elstree Village to a site on the edge of Elstree and Borehamwood (subject to planning permission).
• Green infrastructure – There are broad deficits in various types of green infrastructure provision across Borehamwood, which the Local Plan will need to help address.

Further information Further information can be found in the South West Hertfordshire Joint Strategic Plan, Strategic Infrastructure Baseline Study 2023.

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