LOCAL authorities in Hertfordshire have unanimously called on regional planners who want thousands more homes in the county to think again.

Hertfordshire County Council, supported by all ten district and borough authorities, has submitted its formal verdict on the housing figures proposed in strategic planning guidance to 2031.

County councillor Derrick Ashley, the relevant cabinet member, said: "While we agree that there is a need for more social and affordable housing, we have independent support that the increased scales of development being looked at are completely unrealistic. "Our consultants have major concerns about even the lowest rates of development, which are the same as those proposed in the 2021 plan, let alone further growth. "This is why our advice to EERA is to further examine the impacts of the 2021 figures before trying to find a way to shoehorn more homes into one of the most densely populated counties in the country.

"How can we be expected to look ahead to 2031 when the infrastructure for the 2021 figures is not being delivered? On top of transport problems, there are other areas of grave concern, such as the fact that the facilities needed to supply water to the new homes and to treat waste water take ten to 15 years to build.

“Aside from our concerns about the level of growth and lack of infrastructure, we continue to question the ridiculously tight deadline that government has imposed on EERA (East of England Regional Assembly) to deliver the 2031 plan. "The timetable significantly limits opportunities for proper public consultation and certainly doesn’t give us time to understand the long-term impacts of issues such as the credit crunch.

"We hope that EERA and the Government will listen."