Local Plan consultation imminent
Consultation consultation consultation!
If you've been checking Facebook regularly, or have been following Dacorum Borough Council happenings you may be aware that last week Dacorum Borough Council voted by 29 to 18 (with some abstentions) to put the 'Emerging Local Plan' out for consultation immediately. The consultation officially begins on Friday 27 November at 5pm but the draft version is available here for review now.
What is a Local Plan?
Put simply, the local plan for Dacorum is a document prepared by the council which outlines the plan for growth in Hemel, Berko and Tring (plus villages) over the next 18 years. ThIs includes housing, employment and retail. For many people, housing will be the most interesting part, where it will go, how tall it can be, and so on.
Why should I care?
You may be aware of some large housing developments starting to appear around Dacorum, such as the Bovis development at the top of the hill in Apsley, or the recently approved 'West Hemel' expansion, between Pouchen End Lane and Chaulden/Warner's end.
If you live fairly centrally you may instead have been more aware of back garden developments on your road, or even just extensions put up by neighbours.
As a member of the planning committee I am (sometimes painfully) aware that our decisions in relation to any potential development are based on the current Local Plan, and that only if certain rules are broken (those laid out in the Local Plan and supporting documents) do we have grounds to reject a proposal.
On top of this, the Local Plan provides guidance to developers as to what is expected of them when submitting a planning proposal, be it for one house or 1000. This local plan lays out where DBC expect over 16,000 homes will be built over the next 18 years. It's well worth a look.