Deal for 250 homes on golf course falls through
Hertsmere Borough CouncilA deal to build 250 houses and a supermarket on an old golf course has fallen through.
A contractual dispute has resulted in Hertsmere Borough Council pulling the plug on the agreement with developers.
The authority's cabinet has now agreed to put a new brief together for the site and put it on the market.
One councillor said he was "getting towards the end of my tether" about the project.
The site is owned by Hertsmere Borough Council and there have been no holes played on the course since 2018.
The redevelopment plan for the site involved 250 homes and a large area of public open space.
The council planned to contribute £3m towards the cost of a community hub, featuring a supermarket, nursery, community centre, arts centre and car park.
Only one bid for the site was received, which involved a joint venture between the Hill Group and Griggs Homes.
GoogleA central procurement agency, LHC, was used by the council to get the contract agreed.
LHC insisted that the contract could only be made between the council and the Hill Group, as it was an appointed supplier.
Both of the developers said the project was tendered on the basis of a joint venture - and was awarded on the same basis.
As the dispute could not be resolved, the cabinet agreed on Wednesday to prepare a development brief and seek expressions of interest from potential buyers.
The full council will have to approve the move.
'Get what we can'
Hill Group and Griggs Homes have asked for £370,000 as compensation for the costs they have already incurred on the project.
Christian Gray, a Labour councillor, told Wednesday's meeting: "I'm getting towards the end of my tether with Bushey Golf and Country Club, to be quite honest with you.
"I would urge everybody to work together and get the best of what we can out of it, or actually just risk losing it all and just be done with it."
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