London Borough of Dartford and Gravesham

This proposed Borough is made up from an amalgamation of the Kentish districts of Dartford and Gravesham as well as a sliver of Sevenoaks district mostly parts inside the M25. In the pictures below I show two different possible boundaries for this proposed district the first includes the whole of Dartford and Gravesham districts and so includes a number of large villages. The second restricts the boundary somewhat, to only the most urban parts i.e. mainly just Dartford, Gravesend and the bits inside the M25. There is still a part of the M25 outside my new Greater London boundary I will annex this part to adjacent existing London Boroughs. I estimate the population of what is in the first picture to be 220,000 and the second 180,000.

Towns and Villages included in the Borough:

In Both Pictures: Swanley, Hextable, Gravesend, Dartford, Swanscombe, Northfleet
Only in Picture 1: Higham, Meopham, Hartley, Longfield, New Ash Green, South Darenth, Istead Rise

Notable things about the area:

Bluewater shopping centre.
The Dartford Crossing and Tunnel.
On the Thames Estuary.
The proposed Theme Park of Paramount Kent.
Ebbsfleet International Railway Station.
Ebbsfleet Valley New Town.

City of St Albans

My third proposed borough is centred around the town of Hemel Hempstead and the city of St Albans. Both of which are in Hertfordshire, form part of the Greater London Built-up Area and lie just outside the M25. This is the last potential Borough with any part in Hertfordshire and includes large parts of the current Dacorum and City of St Albans districts. I propose that the remainder of these districts merge along with that sliver of Three Rivers outside my proposed boroughs form a new West Hertfordshire district. To prevent a thin peninsula other parts maybe annexed to the Welwyn-Hatfield district.

I named this the City of St Albans rather than the London Borough of Hemel Hempstead and St Albans because St Albans is a city and other cities in London like Westminster use a similar naming scheme. Below is a picture of the proposed borough which also shows the boundaries of the previous two boroughs I proposed. I estimate the population of this potential borough to be 190,000.

Towns and Villages included in the Borough:

St Albans,  Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley, Bedmond, How Wood, Park Street, Chipperfield

Notable things about the area:

Hemel Hempstead's Magic Roundabout.
Hemel Hempstead was voted the ugliest town in Britain.
The Buncefield fire took place in Hemel Hempstead in 2005 and was the largest peacetime explosion in Europe.
St Albans Cathedral.
The Clock Tower and the remains of the roman wall in St Albans.
St Albans is often voted one of the best places to live in the country.

London Borough of Harlow and Epping Forest/London Borough of Broxbourne and Loughton

My second proposed borough includes the new town of Harlow, large parts of the Epping Forest district (both in Essex) as well as most of the Broxbourne district in Hertfordshire as well as small bits of East Hertfordshire. Like with the previous district the borders are motorway aligned. Below are two potential boundaries for this area one includes a rural slice and the other doesn't. I could exclude more rural areas but I felt I should include all that is in the M25. I estimate the population of this district will be 270,000.

Towns and villages included in the Borough:

Loughton, Chigwell, Abridge, Theydon Bois, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Waltham Abbey, Epping, Harlow, Sawbridgeworth

Notable things about the area:

Epping Forest.
Is on the Herts/Essex border.
Close to but excludes Stanstead airport.
The new town of Harlow has good examples of Brutalist architecture.
Other areas, like Epping, retain a quaint charm.
Waltham Cross is home to the world's largest printing plant (according to Wikipedia)
Lee Valley Park.
The Loughton Incinerator Thefts took place in Loughton this inspired two (admittedly terrible) films.

UPDATE: London Borough of Broxbourne and Loughton

After some thinking I decided that Harlow was only part of London's urban area because of narrow ribbon development and hence was undeserving of becoming part of a new London Borough so now I propose a different Borough which includes the areas which are most connected to London. The new boundaries are shown below. I estimate this borough's population to be 160,000.

 

Towns and Villages included in the Borough:

Loughton, Chigwell, Abridge, Theydon Bois, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross

Notable things about the area:

Epping Forest.
Is on the Herts/Essex border.
Waltham Cross is home to the world's largest printing plant (according to Wikipedia)
Lee Valley Park.
The Loughton Incinerator Thefts took place in Loughton this inspired two (admittedly terrible) films.

London Borough of Watford

My first proposed borough is centred around the town of Watford currently in Hertfordshire. The boundaries of this borough is basically the three Hertfordshire districts of Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere. Pictured below is the actual potential borders. Note the alignment to motorways in many places as well as going outside the M25 in places to encompass the towns of Potters Bar and Chorleywood. I estimate this borough would have a population of 280,000.

Towns and villages included in the Borough:

Watford, Borehamwood, Elstree, Bushey, Radlett, Shenley, South Oxhey, Rickmansworth, Maple Cross, Denham Green, Chorleywood, Potters Bar

Notable things about the area:

Borehamwood and Elstree are the site of a number of famous film studios collectively known as Elstree studios.
A number of the smaller towns have large percentages of their populations being Jewish. In particular Radlett is almost 30% Jewish and the most Jewish built-up area in the country.
The Three Rivers district was the second most peaceful local authority according to this.
Watford FC.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour - London is in Watford.

Introduction

The last time London had significant boundary changes was in 1965 that was almost 50 years ago now. In this blog I will attempt to make the case for further boundary change and talk about potential areas to be annexed to the capital and potential future London Boroughs.

I will be making the case that all areas inside the  M25 should join the capital as should most of what is in the Greater London Built-up Area which is pictured below.
Note that when I estimate populations of potential boroughs I am using data from here on Built-up areas as well as data on Local Authorities which can be got using this.
Also note that when London Boroughs I propose involve districts getting split the parts outside my proposed boroughs get annexed to adjacent districts.

 

What I plan to do first is talk about each potential London Borough what towns it contains as well as important sites with in it. After going through all the potential boroughs I will attempt to make the case for border reform. I may also afterwards discuss border reforms for other cities in Great Britain.