7. Making it happen

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At this early stage of preparing a plan, details of precisely how the vision and objectives will be delivered are not being considered. That will come in future stages. However, it is important to consider how the Joint Strategic Plan could support innovative solutions to the challenges faced in SW Herts, as this will help determine how aspirational the Joint Strategic Plan should be.

Some case studies, ranging from an international to more local scale that show what we might want to try to achieve are set out below.


Heartwood Forest

The Woodland Trust have created a new forest near Sandridge, in St Albans district. Heartwood Forest’s 347-hectare site was created on what was once mainly agricultural land. It’s so big that it’s now the largest continuous new native forest in England; a place where everyone can find space, peace, wildlife and miles of beautiful woodland to explore.

Find our more here.


Rivertech, Rickmansworth

Flexible working is here to stay. Rivertech is a shared workspace in Rickmansworth for entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-ups, small and medium businesses. Inclusive and affordable workspace is complemented by a range of clubs and programmes that support skills exchange, partnerships, and member wellbeing.

Find our more here.

Aarhus Carbon Neutral City

Aarhus, Denmark aims to become a carbon neutral city by 2030, having already cut its emissions by 50% in the last 10 years. The city has undergone a radical energy transformation, moving from fossil fuel to heat pumps and electric boilers and switching the majority of heating and electricity to biomass. To reach its goal of 100% renewable energy, it is planning to increase solar and wind power, boost efficiency in buildings, and decarbonise transportation.

Find our more here.

Co-located community services

Loneliness can be a major issue in cities and towns, and the loss of community space and increasingly independent lifestyles are often considered contributing factors. Café 1759 in Whitehill & Bordon, Hampshire is a not-for-profit community café and multi-purpose space run by the local housing association. It provides a range of activities and services including programmes with the local GP surgery, employment and health-check events.

Find our more here.

Lifetime neighbourhoods

Lifetime neighbourhoods are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and inviting for everyone; regardless of age, health, or disability. They are built to be accessible, offer a mix of services and amenities, promote social networks and interaction with nature, and offer a range of house types and tenures that can be flexible to meet residents’ changing needs.

Find our more here.

One Planet Living

Bioregional created the One Planet Living framework in 2003 from their experience developing the multiaward- winning BedZED eco-village in South London. The One Planet Living sustainability framework comprises principles and guidance designed to support the creation of a ‘One Planet Action Plan’ that acts as a route map towards a more sustainable future for organisations and authorities.

Find our more here.

Cycle Superhighways

Denmark is developing a cycle superhighway network to link urban areas and workplaces across municipal borders. The first cycle superhighway opened in 2012 and there are now nine across the country. On average, there is a 23% increase in cycle trips every time a route is upgraded to a cycle superhighway. Cooperation between municipalities was key in realising this model.

Find our more here.

Carbon capture

As concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) continue to rise and drive climate changes, scientists have been researching options not just to reduce CO2 emissions, but to actually remove existing carbon from the atmosphere. ‘Carbon cracking’ is one such approach that is at the pilot stage.

High density mixed use, Watford

The primary office location in SW Herts, Clarendon Road has seen £100m of private sector investment and commitments for 62,000sqm of new high quality employment floorspace including KPMG, PwC and TJX’s new flagship European headquarters. A public realm improvement scheme has been completed to prioritise pedestrians and sustainable travel choices that supports higher density living in a quality environment.


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At this early stage of preparing a plan, details of precisely how the vision and objectives will be delivered are not being considered. That will come in future stages. However, it is important to consider how the Joint Strategic Plan could support innovative solutions to the challenges faced in SW Herts, as this will help determine how aspirational the Joint Strategic Plan should be.

Some case studies, ranging from an international to more local scale that show what we might want to try to achieve are set out below.


Heartwood Forest

The Woodland Trust have created a new forest near Sandridge, in St Albans district. Heartwood Forest’s 347-hectare site was created on what was once mainly agricultural land. It’s so big that it’s now the largest continuous new native forest in England; a place where everyone can find space, peace, wildlife and miles of beautiful woodland to explore.

Find our more here.


Rivertech, Rickmansworth

Flexible working is here to stay. Rivertech is a shared workspace in Rickmansworth for entrepreneurs, freelancers, start-ups, small and medium businesses. Inclusive and affordable workspace is complemented by a range of clubs and programmes that support skills exchange, partnerships, and member wellbeing.

Find our more here.

Aarhus Carbon Neutral City

Aarhus, Denmark aims to become a carbon neutral city by 2030, having already cut its emissions by 50% in the last 10 years. The city has undergone a radical energy transformation, moving from fossil fuel to heat pumps and electric boilers and switching the majority of heating and electricity to biomass. To reach its goal of 100% renewable energy, it is planning to increase solar and wind power, boost efficiency in buildings, and decarbonise transportation.

Find our more here.

Co-located community services

Loneliness can be a major issue in cities and towns, and the loss of community space and increasingly independent lifestyles are often considered contributing factors. Café 1759 in Whitehill & Bordon, Hampshire is a not-for-profit community café and multi-purpose space run by the local housing association. It provides a range of activities and services including programmes with the local GP surgery, employment and health-check events.

Find our more here.

Lifetime neighbourhoods

Lifetime neighbourhoods are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and inviting for everyone; regardless of age, health, or disability. They are built to be accessible, offer a mix of services and amenities, promote social networks and interaction with nature, and offer a range of house types and tenures that can be flexible to meet residents’ changing needs.

Find our more here.

One Planet Living

Bioregional created the One Planet Living framework in 2003 from their experience developing the multiaward- winning BedZED eco-village in South London. The One Planet Living sustainability framework comprises principles and guidance designed to support the creation of a ‘One Planet Action Plan’ that acts as a route map towards a more sustainable future for organisations and authorities.

Find our more here.

Cycle Superhighways

Denmark is developing a cycle superhighway network to link urban areas and workplaces across municipal borders. The first cycle superhighway opened in 2012 and there are now nine across the country. On average, there is a 23% increase in cycle trips every time a route is upgraded to a cycle superhighway. Cooperation between municipalities was key in realising this model.

Find our more here.

Carbon capture

As concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) continue to rise and drive climate changes, scientists have been researching options not just to reduce CO2 emissions, but to actually remove existing carbon from the atmosphere. ‘Carbon cracking’ is one such approach that is at the pilot stage.

High density mixed use, Watford

The primary office location in SW Herts, Clarendon Road has seen £100m of private sector investment and commitments for 62,000sqm of new high quality employment floorspace including KPMG, PwC and TJX’s new flagship European headquarters. A public realm improvement scheme has been completed to prioritise pedestrians and sustainable travel choices that supports higher density living in a quality environment.


Previous page

Next page

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