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Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan: Early Engagement is available for you to view and submit comments between the following dates:Start date: Monday 23rd September 2024End Date: Monday 4th November 2024The Local Plan is the statutory development plan setting out the principal policies and proposals for land use in the Borough.&nbsp;The new Local Plan will set out how Welwyn Hatfield grows and develops over the next 15 years and beyond. &nbsp;The early engagement is aimed at involving residents, businesses and stakeholders from the beginning of the plan making process to understand shared aspirations and priorities for the Borough.The Council is seeking views on what matters to you and what you think are the key challenges and opportunities for Welwyn Hatfield. &nbsp;Respondents will be able to share their thoughts on topics such as the local economy, transport, infrastructure and the environment. &nbsp; &nbsp;Your comments together with updated evidence will be considered and used to inform the next stage of the plan preparation process.Please note the deadline for comments is 11:59pm on Monday 4th November 2024It is important to be aware that names and comments, once processed, will be made publicly available on the Council&rsquo;s website. A Local Plan Privacy Notice is <a href="https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/support/privacy-and-data/service-privacy-notices/local-plan-making-consultation-privacy-notice/"></a>available on the Council&rsquo;s website.To assist the engagement process, public drop-in events will be held on:Thursday, 3rd October&nbsp;2024 from 3pm until 7pm at The Howard Centre, Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6HA &nbsp;; andFriday 11th October&nbsp;2024 from 3pm until 7pm at the Hatfield Library, 26-32 Town Centre, Hatfield AL10 0LD&nbsp;Further supporting evidence documents, including FAQs, are available to view or downloaded on the Council&rsquo;s website at: <a href="//www.welhat.gov.uk/localplan">www.welhat.gov.uk/ourlocalplan</a>If you have any queries please contact the Planning Planning Team at Welwyn Hatfield Council on email: localplan@welhat.gov.uk

Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan Early Engagement is now live

WHBC's Cabinet agreed last night (3 Sept) a process of early engagement as the first steps towards developing a new Local Plan for Welwyn Hatfield.The early engagement will commence from Monday 23 September and run to Monday 4 November.The new Local Plan will set out how Welwyn Hatfield grows and develops over the next 15 years and beyond. &nbsp;The early engagement is aimed at involving residents, businesses and stakeholders from the beginning of the plan making process to understand shared aspirations and priorities for the Borough.The Council is seeking views on what matters to you and what you think are the key challenges and opportunities for Welwyn Hatfield. &nbsp;Respondents will be able to share their thoughts on topics such as the local economy, transport, infrastructure and the environment. &nbsp; &nbsp;As part of the early engagement work, a new Local Plan website will go live from 23 September to enable people to share their ideas online. &nbsp;Two drop-in events will be held at the Howard Centre in Welwyn Garden City (3pm to 7pm on Thursday 3 October) and in Hatfield Library (3pm to 7pm on Friday 11 October). &nbsp;Staff from the Council’s Planning Department will be on hand to discuss people’s ideas and thoughts. &nbsp;Councillor Rose Grewal, Executive Member for Planning said:&nbsp;“Our new Local Plan will guide the decisions that we make on the future development of Welwyn Hatfield so that the needs and opportunities of local residents and businesses are met. &nbsp;We want to start the plan making process with a conversation on what matters most to the people who live and work here. &nbsp;I would encourage as many people as possible, particularly our young people, to share their views online or by visiting one of the drop-in sessions.” Further information on the new Local Plan website and drop-in sessions will be published on the Council’s website and social media channels over the coming weeks.

Early Engagement to Kickstart New Local Plan

We are taking our first steps towards creating a New Local Plan. This is your first opportunity to let us know what the key issues and opportunities are and what matters most to you. 

Our Local Plan: Have your say

Our Local Plan

Add logic to update projects latitude and longitude

An interactive online dashboard to establish a clear understanding of place, and interrogate datasets without requiring technical expertise.

Digital Place Portrait

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Digital Place Portrait</h1>

The digital Place Portrait is a tool that follows the Government&rsquo;s focus on the digitisation of planning and will allow users to easily and simply access layers of spatial information and data to help them to identify the different issues affecting the area as a whole and its constituent parts.We have provided a &#39;Place Portrait&#39; of the borough, an interactive online dashboard designed to be a user-focussed, enabling stakeholders and the wider public, to establish a clear understanding of place, and interrogate datasets without requiring technical expertise.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBCDigitalPlacePortrait/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;You can access our digital place portrait here</a>.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBC_Digital_Place_Portrait_Beta_V3/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>Please note: the tool is optimised for desktops, laptops, and tablets, so viewing it on mobile devices may lead to a suboptimal experience.

Where we live, the homes we live in, our health and well-being, and the communities we belong to.

Living

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Living</h1>

Living covers where we live, the homes we live in, our health and well-being, and the communities we belong to.Welwyn Hatfield&rsquo;s population is increasing, people are living longer. The over-60s age groups are projected to grow the fastest, particularly the number of persons aged 75+. The borough also has a large student population.&nbsp;Supply of affordable housing and housing affordability in the borough remains an issue, particularly for first time buyers. The Local Plan is helping to deliver more homes, a mix of housing types and sizes, together with more affordable homes in the borough, and the Council works with others to ensure that new development is accompanied by necessary infrastructure.&nbsp;<h3 id="isPasted">Did you know...</h3><ul class="decimal_type" id="isPasted"><li>At the 2021 Census, our population was 119,900, an 8.5% increase from the 2011 Census.</li><li>Over 65s account for 15.5% of our population. This is projected to increase to 19.6% by 2043<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>.</li><li>In 2023, house prices were 10.9 times annual earnings, higher than England&rsquo;s ratio of 8.3<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a>.</li><li>57% of households own their home, 25% rent from the local authority or a housing association, while 16% rent from a private landlord<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>69.2% of adults said that they were physically active (took part in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week), compared with 67.3% nationally<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title="">[4]</a>.</li><li>Our borough ranks 195 out of 317 local authorities in terms of deprivation overall (where 1 is most deprived). However our borough does not score so well on access to housing and services ranking 96th most deprived<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title="">[5]</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul>Our Place Portrait provides further facts and figures about our borough, which you can explore<a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBCDigitalPlacePortrait/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;here</a><a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBC_Digital_Place_Portrait_Beta_V3/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>.

What are your aspirations for the future of the borough?

Aspirations

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Aspirations for our Borough</h1>

Welwyn Hatfield is an attractive place to live and work. Located just to the north of London, a number of key industries and three higher educational establishments are all located in the borough and our communities have access to a range of homes, jobs, essential services, transport links, and open spaces.&nbsp;Population growth, demographic change and affordability issues creates an ongoing demand for homes, jobs and services that help to meet the varied needs of our communities.The changing nature of how we work, shop, travel, and spend leisure time is likely to affect our town, neighbourhood and village centres.&nbsp;As we move towards net zero, the aim is that the borough will be more sustainable, accessible, biodiverse, resourceful, inclusive, resilient and collaborative.&nbsp;Infrastructure will be required to meet the needs of society, and to help people move around sustainably, there will need to be opportunities to travel by public transport, walking and cycling.&nbsp;

Travel, transport, services and facilities - physical, social and green infrastructure.

Movement and Infrastructure

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Movement and Infrastructure</h1>

Welwyn Hatfield is served by major north-south road and rail links, including the A1(M) and the East Coast Mainline rail service. The principle east-west road route through the borough is the A414.Not all railway stations in the borough are located centrally within settlements, and public transport will be needed to support planned levels of growth to reduce pressure on the road network and tackle the issue of climate change.The National Cycle Route connects Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City, and onwards to St. Albans, Hertford and Stevenage. The Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan seeks to improve safety and accessibility.The Council works with others to help ensure that growth is accompanied by adequate infrastructure. Developers are required to contribute towards enhancing or providing new physical, social and green infrastructure, required as a result of their proposals.<h3 id="isPasted">Did you know...</h3><ul class="decimal_type" id="isPasted"><li>45% of residents commuted to work by car, 6% travelled by public transport, 10% cycled or walked to work, and 36% worked from home<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>.</li><li>12% of residents travel up to 2 km to get to work, 19% travel between 2-10 km, 11% between 10-20 km and 9% over 20 km. Meanwhile 36% work mainly from home<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a>.</li><li>79% of households use only mains gas for their central heating, 8% use electricity, while 0.1% use renewable energy only<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a>. Our borough&#39;s total renewable electrical capacity in 2022 was 8.6 MW. The main source of renewable energy is from solar -photovoltaic <a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title="">[4]</a>.</li><li>There are 36 primary schools and 6 secondary schools in the Borough, most are at or near capacity <a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title="">[5]</a>. The Local Plan makes provision for additional school capacity to cope with an increase in demand resulting from planned housing growth.</li></ul>Our Place Portrait provides further facts and figures about our borough, which you can explore<a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBCDigitalPlacePortrait/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;here</a><a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBC_Digital_Place_Portrait_Beta_V3/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>.

Buildings, structures, landscapes, water, green spaces and the impacts of climate change.

Environment

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Environment</h1>

Our borough includes a variety of natural assets, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves, Local Nature Reserves, Special Areas of Conservation, Ancient Woodlands and Local Wildlife Sites. The River Lea catchment passes through the borough and the River Mimram is a notable chalk stream which is one of the few rivers that still supports populations of water vole.Both Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City are of significant historical importance as New Towns, and Welwyn Garden City holds additional importance as a Garden City. Our borough is rich with historical assets, including listed buildings, conservation areas, ancient monuments and registered parks &amp; gardens, and areas of archaeological interest.The Council declared a Climate Change Emergency in 2019 and has recently produced a Transition to Net Zero Strategy. The Council manages over 30,000 council-owned individual trees as well as woodland areas, open spaces, allotment sites, micro-orchards, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

<h2>Did you know...</h2><ul class="decimal_type" id="isPasted"><li>Natural designations include 198 x Local Wildlife Sites, 5 x nationally important Sites of Special Scientific Interest and 9 x Local Nature Reserves.</li><li>Historical designations include 10 x conservation areas, 74 x areas of archaeological significance and 432<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a> listed buildings and structures.</li><li>In 2021 there were 4.3 kt of CO2 emissions per km2, higher than Hertfordshire&rsquo;s average of 3.3 kt<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[2]</a>.</li><li>6.1% of adult mortality (aged 30+) attributed to particulate air pollution in the borough (in 2021)<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[3]</a>.</li></ul>Our Place Portrait provides further facts and figures about our borough, which you can explore<a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBCDigitalPlacePortrait/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;here</a><a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBC_Digital_Place_Portrait_Beta_V3/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>.

The economy, jobs, retail, services, investment, skills and training.

Working

<h1 id="isPasted" style="text-align: center;">Working</h1>

Strategically placed between London and Cambridge, Welwyn Hatfield is an important centre for jobs, both for those in living in the borough and in the wider area. In recent years there has been a change towards more flexible working for many and the borough has seen annual losses of office floorspace. Measures have been put in place to prevent the loss of employment space to residential use on several key sites in the borough.Our town, neighbourhood and village centres provide a focus for activity and community life, with shopping, leisure, employment, culture facilities and other services. However, online shopping has resulted in a much greater need for warehousing and distribution and high streets and town centres are seeing change. The Hatfield Renewal Partnership and a strategic plan guides the ongoing transformation of the town. &nbsp;The University of Hertfordshire is based in Hatfield, and the main campus for the Royal Veterinary College is located west of Brookmans Park. Oaklands College also has one of its campuses in the borough.<h3 id="isPasted">Did you know...</h3><ul class="decimal_type" id="isPasted"><li>In 2021, 63.5% of people aged 16 years and older were economically active<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>.</li><li>The 2021 Census indicated more people commute into the borough than commute out.</li><li>The gross median annual salary for residents is &pound;40,006, compared with &pound;34,999 for England and Wales, and &pound;41,622 for Hertfordshire<a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title="">[2]</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Of our residents in employment, 18.5% work in the wholesale and retail sector, 12.5% in health and social care, 9.7% in education and 8.9% in construction<a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title="">[3]</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Retail vacancy in Welwyn Garden City town centre was 9.1% in 2023, in Hatfield it was slightly higher at 13.2%<a href="#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title="">[4]</a>. This compares with national vacancy figures of 14%<a href="#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title="">[5]</a>.</li><li>37.3% of the residents have the highest level of educational qualification (Level 4 and above - first degrees or degree equivalents) &nbsp;compared with an average of 39.4% across Hertfordshire<a href="#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title="">[6]</a>.</li></ul>Our Place Portrait provides further facts and figures about our borough, which you can explore<a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBCDigitalPlacePortrait/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;here</a><a href="https://public.tableau.com/views/WHBC_Digital_Place_Portrait_Beta_V3/DASH_Intro_page?:showVizHome=no&:embed=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a>.