Bushey: Settlement overview and required infrastructure

Bushey is the second largest built-up area in Hertsmere and comprises three different settlements – Bushey Heath, Bushey Village and North Bushey - which are distinguishable from each other and distinctly separate from the nearby urban areas of Watford and Stanmore.

The initial growth of the area in the mid-19th century followed the construction of the London-Birmingham railway which passed through Bushey. The most densely developed part of Bushey is the historic area in and around the historic High Street which forms part of a conservation area. Much of the remainder of Bushey, including Bushey Heath and North Bushey, is more suburban in character, albeit containing the most diverse range of building types of any of the principal settlements in the borough. Bushey has the highest number of locally listed buildings in the borough as well as the unique Bushey Rose Garden.

Both Bushey Village and Bushey Heath are compact local centres, offering convenience retail and local dining facilities rather than national multiples and chains. Larger commercial businesses are primarily concentrated in and around Otterspool Way although there has been a shift from traditional office, industrial and warehousing development to quasi-retail activity, including showrooms and trade counters.

Bushey lies immediately to the west of the M1, equidistant between Junctions 4 and 5, offering a north-south connection between London and Hertfordshire. A series of B roads provide local connections to the A4140, A411 and A41. Bus operators utilise this road network heavily providing bus connectivity, in particular, from Bushey to Watford. Bushey’s rail station is in the neighbouring borough of Watford, situated on the West Coast Mainline and Transport for London’s overground Lioness Line.

The existing cycle network is limited throughout Bushey, with small sections of cycle routes dispersed across the settlement with little connectivity. Plans for the introduction of a bike hire scheme in Bushey were approved at the beginning of the year which enable cycle travel between Bushey, Watford, Elstree and Borehamwood under the same scheme.

Key issues and challenges
• Significant eastward expansion is limited by the town’s position relative to the M1 and the A41.
• Significant amount of new housing in Bushey, primarily on smaller development sites, with almost 1,500 new homes built since 2012.
• Growth has impacted on levels of traffic and an increased demand on local services including education and health provision.
• Locating any additional required schools including demand which cannot be accommodated in Watford.
• A modest deficit across all types of open space and relative gaps in accessibility in several locations.
• Narrow green belt gaps between Bushey and Watford.
• Expansion of the retail “offer” and leisure activities is constrained by the proximity to Watford and the limited availability of suitable sites.

Bushey statistics
• Population: 28,418
• Built-up area: 2.8 sq miles / 7.2 sq km
• Population density: 10,293 people per sq mile / 3,974 people per sq km
• Population change between 2011 Census and 2021 Census: +1.2%
• New homes built in current Local Plan period (2012-27): 1,449

• Proposed new homes: 375
• Proposed Green Belt area: 6.35 hectares
• Change to number of new homes proposed in 2021: -79%
• Change to area of Green Belt proposed in 2021: -93%

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 Bushey, particularly towards Watford and North London.
• Active travel - The South Central Growth and Transport Plan includes a package of measures to improve the provision for cyclists and pedestrians.
• Primary education - Primary education provision within Bushey is already constrained, and the education authority has previously indicated a need for temporary arrangements to address existing under capacity. The level of housing growth previously anticipated in Bushey would equate to a need for between 5-6 forms of primary school entry but we are now proposing a significant reduction in the amount of housing growth in Bushey. This may be reduce the need for any new schools with demand potentially accommodated by existing schools.
• Secondary education – The education authority has previously indicated a need for a new secondary school to meet the needs of the Watford-Bushey-Radlett school planning area, regardless of the level of growth in Bushey, due to the level of demand arising from neighbouring Watford.
• Primary healthcare – Based upon the potential distribution of development around the borough, the NHS (through the local Integrated Care Board) has previously indicated a need for a new general practice surgery within Bushey – most likely through the relocation and expansion of Little Bushey Surgery.
• Green infrastructure – There are broad deficits in various types of green infrastructure provision across Bushey, 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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