Designated Neighbourhood Plan Areas
Welwyn Neighbourhood Plan Area
Consultation on the Welwyn Parish Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 16) 21 July to 1 September
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, as the Local Planning Authority, are consulting on the Welwyn Parish Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 16) for a period of six weeks between Monday 21 July and Monday 1 September 2025.
This is your opportunity to comment on the plan and share your views. Any representations received will be forwarded to the Neighbourhood Plan’s independent Examiner for consideration. The Examination is due to take place in the Autumn of 2025.
Welwyn Neighbourhood Plan Preparation
Neighbourhood Plans are prepared in accordance with The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (As Amended).
Welwyn Parish Council is in the process of producing a Neighbourhood Plan for Welwyn Parish.
The whole of the geographic area of Welwyn Parish was designated as the Neighbourhood Plan Area on 11 September 2020. Welwyn Parish Council was the relevant body that applied for designation.
Welwyn Parish Neighbouthood Plan map
Progress on Welwyn Neighbourhood Plan
Consultation on pre-submission Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 14)
Since designation of the neighbourhood plan area, Welwyn Parish Council have been preparing their Neighbourhood Plan, which included consultation on the pre-submission version of the plan (Regulation 14) between May and June 2024.
View the pre-submission version of the plan
Welwyn Neighbourhood Plan SEA screening
A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required under European legislation for all plans which may have a significant effect on the environment.
A SEA aims to protect the environment and ensure the environment is considered during the preparation and adoption of plans, this promotes sustainable development.
Not all neighbourhood plans will require a SEA to be carried out. To decide if a SEA is required, a screening exercise is used to look at the proposals in a neighbourhood plan and see if a significant effect is likely. We consult three key statutory bodies Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency and ask for their views. We have carried out screening of the Welwyn Neighbourhood Plan and have determined that it would not require SEA or a Habitats Regulation Assessment.
A copy of the determination and the statement of reasons may be viewed and downloaded. They are also available to view in reception at the council offices, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL2 2AE. You may request a copy by emailing planningpolicy@welhat.gov.uk, or telephoning 01707 357000. A charge will be made for hard copies.
View the SEA and HRA Screening Opinion document.
Submission of the Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 15)
Following the Regulation 14 consultation, the Parish Council made changes to the pre-submission version of the plan and have subsequently formally submitted the Welwyn Parish Neighbourhood Plan to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (Regulation 15).
Next Steps
Following the public consultation carried out by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council (Regulation 16), the plan will be examined by an independent examiner (Regulation 17).
Once the Examiner has issued their final report, the Borough Council as the Local Planning Authority must then decide what action to take in response to each of the examiner's recommendations, including whether to progress the plan to a referendum.
Further information on the progress of the Welwyn Parish neighbourhood plan is available on the Welwyn Parish Council website