Updated 30 September 2024
The Council is developing a new Draft Local Plan, which is like a blueprint for future development. It establishes the Council’s long-term planning strategy for delivering and managing growth and infrastructure, for environmental and heritage protection and enhancement, up to 2041.
This is an emerging Draft Plan, and people who live and work in the District, community groups and businesses have been encouraged to give their views. We want to hear from as many people and organisations as possible. The feedback received will help shape the final proposals.
Late September 2024 – Latest news from St Albans District Council Spatial Planning Team
The draft St Albans Local Plan 2041 has now been published for its Regulation 19 consultation. The Plan will be available for you to make representations on between the following dates:
Start Date: 26/09/24 10:00 AM
End Date: 08/11/24 10:00 AM
The draft Local Plan can be found at https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/draft-local-plan-publication where you can make representations online.
Paper copies of the documents can be found at the following locations during opening hours:
- St Albans Civic Centre
- St Albans Library
- Harpenden Library
- London Colney Library
- Marshalswick Library
- Redbourn Community Library
- Wheathampstead Community Library
- Hemel Hempstead Library
- Leverstock Green Library
- Radlett Library
This is a formal, statutory stage in the preparation of a Local Plan. Following the consultation the draft Local Plan is sent, along with all duly-made representations received, to the Planning Inspectorate. The Plan will then be Examined by a government-appointed Planning Inspector who will consider if any changes need to be made to the Local Plan before it can be adopted.
During the Examination of the Local Plan the Planning Inspector is only able to assess whether the draft Local Plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements, and whether it is ‘sound’. Therefore, all representations on the draft Local Plan must relate to a matter of legal compliance or a matter of soundness as follows:
- Legally compliant – the draft Local Plan has been prepared in accordance with the legal and procedural requirements for preparing Local Plans
- Positively prepared – the draft Local Plan provides a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development;
- Justified – an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence;
- Effective – deliverable over the plan period, and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground; and
- Consistent with national policy – enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in this Framework and other statements of national planning policy, where relevant.
There will also be unstaffed public exhibitions of materials in St Albans Civic Centre between 7 October – 18 October, and 28 October – 7 November.
How do I make any representations?
The best way to respond is by using the online consultation system which can be found through links on the Councils website at https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/draft-local-plan-publication.
You can send a response by Email to planning.policy@stalbans.gov.uk or by post to: Spatial Planning Team, St Albans Council Offices, St Peters Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE.
All representations must be received by 10am on Friday 8 November 2024.
Yours faithfully,
Spatial Planning Team