Projects

East Hemel Hempstead is a masterplan being developed by The Crown Estate for up to 4,000 new homes, primary and secondary schools and up to 2 million sq ft of commercial development immediately adjacent to the M1. It will also deliver substantial transport infrastructure improvements to the community.

Guided by a 100-year vision, East Hemel is intended to grow into a place where people can live, learn, work and spend time across every stage of life. The emerging masterplan has been informed by more than 18 months of collaboration and consultation. More than 1,400 residents, community groups and local stakeholders have taken part in engagement events, helping the proposals respond to local priorities.

Through a diverse mix of housing, social and community infrastructure, green space and thousands of new jobs, East Hemel has the potential to deliver transformational change within and around Hemel Hempstead. 

To ensure The Crown Estate is providing the right improvements at the right time, we’re proposing a “Monitor and Manage (M&M) Strategy” which allows us to check the transport impacts of development while it is being built out. M&M will apply to at least the three main areas below.

Achieving mode share targets (goals for how people travel).

Implementation of transport interventions.

Car parking provision.

Travel behaviour and the performance of the transport system can evolve over time, so flexibility is essential. Through structured monitoring, dynamic management, and stakeholder collaboration, this approach helps promote sustainable, safe, and efficient travel for the local community.

There are additional complexities of being situated adjacent to the M1 and to Buncefield Terminal, making the transport strategy for the site challenging.

David Bird and Marcus Della Croce have been involved in the proposed masterplan for more than 10 years at Rovia as well as their previous employer, leading the development of the transport strategy for the site and engaging with key stakeholders and the local community. The planning application was submitted in Autumn 2025, and discussions have continued into 2026 with the Environmental Statement Addendum submitted in August 2026 to respond to updates as the project has evolved.

David and Marcus have also been providing advice on the wider Hemel Garden Communities development for all of the major landowners which is a new extension to Hemel Hempstead of 11,000 new homes and 10,000 jobs.