The Crown Estate has submitted an Outline Planning Application for East Hemel, marking a significant milestone for Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) and the continued growth of our Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter (Herts IQ).
Set across 975 acres to the east of Hemel Hempstead, the proposal will deliver up to 4,000 high-quality homes with a mix of ownership types, including a significant number of affordable homes. The plans also feature new health and community facilities, up to four schools, and sustainable transport links, with over one-third of the site dedicated to green spaces, including a new 63-hectare country park.
The application follows an extensive 18‑month engagement programme involving nearly 1,400 local residents, schools and local partners.
Rob Chesworth, Head of Strategic Land at The Crown Estate, said:
“East Hemel marks a rare opportunity to create a place that will serve the people of Hertfordshire for generations to come, providing quality homes and jobs and supporting the wider ambitions of the area…we’ve been encouraged by the enthusiasm of local residents and partners, whose passion and ideas have shaped this vision.”
What this means for Herts IQ
As well as new homes and community spaces, East Hemel offers 1.8 million sq. ft. of employment space, which forms part of Herts IQ – Hertfordshire’s multi-site enterprise zone spanning 3 million sq. ft.
The new employment district will create:
- Thousands of new jobs and skills opportunities.
- Space for clean tech, modern construction, sustainable innovation and advanced manufacturing businesses.
- A long-term pipeline of high-quality employment directly connected to new homes, schools and green spaces.
- Stronger links between the wider community and Hertfordshire’s innovation economy.
Hear from Adam Wood, Enterprise Zone Manager for Herts IQ, as he highlights the scale of the opportunity and what it means for Herts IQ and the county as a whole:
The Crown Estate’s vision for East Hemel
The Crown Estate is working closely with local stakeholders to shape a long-term stewardship approach for East Hemel, ensuring that community participation and shared ownership help guide the area’s evolution over time.
As part of the wider Hemel Garden Communities programme, which aims to deliver up to 11,000 homes and thousands of jobs by 2050, the East Hemel submission represents a major step forward in delivering new homes, new employment opportunities and a major expansion of the Herts IQ ecosystem.
East Hemel marks a rare opportunity to create a place that will serve the people of Hertfordshire for generations to come, providing quality homes and jobs and supporting the wider ambitions of the area.
East Hemel marks a rare opportunity to create a place that will serve the people of Hertfordshire for generations to come, providing quality homes and jobs and supporting the wider ambitions of the area.