Local residents and businesses suggest key themes for new Local Plan

People were given an opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts on a new Local Plan for the borough as part of an early engagement exercise that ran from 23 September to 4 November.

The ten themes – covering topics such as housing, employment and the environment – will form part of the context for the new Local Plan, which will provide a framework for the borough’s future growth and development over the next 15 years and beyond.

The key themes were presented to Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday 4 February. The themes emerged after considering the responses to the engagement exercise, which asked for people’s views on what mattered to them and what they thought were the borough’s key challenges and opportunities.

Respondents were also able to share their thoughts on topics such as the local economy, transport, infrastructure and the environment.   

The ten themes that were agreed by Cabinet are:

•         Meeting local housing needs

•         A local response to the global issue of climate change

•         Improving facilities and services and accessibility to them

•         Supporting active and healthy lifestyles

•         A borough that is better connected and is more accessible to all

•         Valuing the borough’s Green Belt

•         Supporting and enhancing the borough’s natural infrastructure

•         Sustaining and promoting the borough’s employment and education opportunities

•         Recognising the changing role and opportunities that our town centres offer

•         Creating and maintaining community values and a sense of place.

Local Plans provide a way for councils, working with the community, to set out the strategic priorities for the development and use of land. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is required by government to have an updated Local Plan, to direct growth for homes and jobs while protecting our most important historical and environmental spaces.

Councillor Rose Grewal, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Executive Member for Planning, said:

“We are committed to providing the homes and jobs our borough needs while protecting our environment and meeting our net zero goals.

“Preparing a new Local Plan is essential to getting this right. We’ve listened to residents, and these ten themes will ensure their views inform our borough’s future growth and development.

“Thank you to all those who submitted feedback. We will continue to listen to and engage with residents throughout the Local Plan process.”

In summer, there will be a further opportunity to help shape the Local Plan. A consultation will be held on the what the plan needs to address and what the priorities should be.

To view the responses to the early engagement exercise and sign up for future updates on the Local Plan, visit our new Local Plan Portal.