GOVERNMENT CUTS NORTH HERTS HOUSING NUMBERS

The Inspector who is running the examination into the North Herts local plan has asked the council to consider the impact that reduced government housing forecasts should have on the plan. The updated forecasts predict that North Herts will only need to build 10,000 houses between 2011 and 2031 rather than the previously forecast total of 14,000 used when preparing the local plan. Liberal Democrat councillors have challenged the council to respond by reducing the number of houses to be built in the green belt.

Liberal Democrat councillor Paul Clark said, "These revised numbers mean that there is an opportunity to reduce the impact on North Herts' green belt whilst still providing housing needed by local people. The council failed to tell councillors about the Inspector's request, which makes me concerned that they just propose to sweep this under the carpet.

"We have asked the council why they did this and how they plan to respond to the Inspector."