Hertsmere Borough Council

Hertsmere Borough lies immediately North of London. It is largely rural in nature, 80% of its 38 square miles being within the Green Belt. The four main settlements of Borehamwood (and Elstree), Bushey, Potters bar and Radlett constitue the only urbanised areas - although substantial redevelopment of a former hospital site over the last few years has meant that the Green Belt village of Shelney has taken on a more suburban character. The majority of the Borough's 106,000 residents live in these settlements. There are in addition a number of other villages - principally Aldenham, Letchmore Heath, Patchetts Green, Ridge and South Mimms - in the Green Belt.

Borehamwood is the largest settlement, identified in the adopted Core Strategy as the main location for growth, alongside to a lesser extent Bushey and Potters Bar. It is characterised by a diverse, growing population and is an important economic centre with an international reputation for film and television production. Bushey is primarily residential in character and tends to have stronger links with Watford than Hertsmere's other settlements; Potters Bar is physically quite separate from other settlements in the Borough.

Hertsmere is a relatively affluent area with low unemployment (1.2% of 16 to 64 year olds), good levels of education and life expectancy, high car ownership and low crime rate. Together with accessibility to London and high quality environment, factors such as high house prices and traffic congestion fuel pressure to build in the Green Belt.

The M25 and M1 motorways and the A1 run through the Borough; all four main settlements are served by the rail network providing easy access particularly into and onward from central London.

For further information on how the Council undertakes it's procurement operations, please visit: https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/Business/Tenders--Contracts/Tenders-and-Contracts.aspx