Local Plan
Our new Local Plan will shape the future of development in our towns and villages between now and 2032. It includes new homes, new jobs and business premises, open spaces and community facilities as well as infrastructure such as roads, schools and healthcare. It is about supporting the growth of Welwyn Hatfield and a vibrant local economy. You can view more about this using the links below.
You can also view our Current Local Plan.
Update September 2023
Scheduled meetings to consider Local Plan are now planned for October
We had planned to make make a decision on the adoption of the Local Plan at the CPPP, Cabinet and Council meetings in September. We are still waiting to receive the Planning Inspector’s report and have no option but to amend our previous timetable.
We now expect to receive the draft report in the coming days, and plan to make make a decision on the adoption of the Local Plan at the CPPP on 5 October, Cabinet on 10 October, and Council meeting on 12 October.
Full details of meetings will be published on our meetings and committees pages.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused, this matter is outside of the Council’s control.
Update July 2023
Further Main Modifications Consultation
Following consultation earlier in the year on a series of Main Modifications to the Local Plan, the Inspector issued a schedule of proposed Further Main Modifications. Consultation on these Further Main Modifications ran between 12 June and 5pm and 30 July 2023 (5pm). All responses will be consideration by the Inspector as he prepares a final report on the plan to be brought back to the council's cross-party Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel, Cabinet, and full Council in late Summer / early Autumn 2023. The Examination Inspector has written several reports relating to the soundness of the Plan, these are published as examination documents.
Birchall Garden Suburb Masterplan
A Masterplan to guide development of Birchall Garden Suburb has been prepared. The plan provides a framework to guide future sustainable development of the site and should help to shape development proposals by setting standards for layout, design quality and phasing of development in the interests of the community. Information on the emerging Masterplan is being shared ahead of being finalised and taken forward for endorsement by the Council. The Masterplan will provide a useful tool for officers when negotiating with developers and landowners.
Birchall Garden Suburb Masterplan
Update March 2023
The Inspector wrote to us asking us to go out for consultation on the proposed Main Modifications to the Local Plan. View the letter from the Planning Inspector in relation to our schedule of Main Modifications.
The consultation on these Main Modifications ran between 4 January and 15 February.
This was based on a housing supply of 13,392 dwellings, with a ten year supply of 9,209 dwellings.
All responses to the consultation have now been sent to the Inspector for his consideration as he prepares a final report on the plan to be brought back to the council's cross-party Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel, Cabinet, and full Council in Summer 2023.
View more on the latest updates to our Local Plan.
The Examination Inspector has written a number of reports relating to the soundness of the Plan and the need for more sites to be added in to the Plan. These are published as examination documents.