Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SP 2 Targets for Growth

The Council will support levels of employment, housing and retail growth which are consistent with the vision and objectives of this strategy and the principles of sustainable development as follows:

  • Land which makes a valuable contribution to the local economy is designated as Employment Areas, as shown on the Policies Map. Over the plan period, provision will be made for a net increase of at least 55,000 sq.m of new floorspace for industry, offices and warehousing. This will allow for a sufficient supply of jobs in the borough and provide the opportunity for new employment floorspace over the plan period, allowing for flexibility in the face of economic changes. Employment floorspace provision will include the strategic development sites at Marshmoor, Welham Green, and North West Hatfield, as set out on the Polices Map.
  • The examination has identified a Full Objectively Assessed Housing Need (FOAHN) for the borough of 15,200 dwellings between 2016 and 2036 (an average of 760 dwellings per annum). Between 1st April 2016 and 31st March 2023, 3,218 dwellings have already been delivered. This plan has identified opportunities on specific sites in and around the towns and excluded villages to facilitate the delivery of 9,343 dwellings between 2023/24 and 2032/33 and 13,400 dwellings over the plan period 2016-36. Opportunities to meet the remaining need will be the subject of an early review of the plan.
  • The Council will undertake a review of the Local Plan, which will commence no later than one year after the adoption of the plan. An updated or replacement plan will be submitted for examination no later than three years after the date of adoption of the plan.
  • The review would be undertaken in the context of housing need, national policy, and other relevant circumstances at the time. The review will determine additional sites to be allocated to meet the requirement in future years and provides an opportunity to examine the plan’s performance to that date.
  • Through the provision of a net increase of around 200 bed-spaces for specialist (Use Class C2) residential or nursing care between 2016 and 2036.
  • Through the delivery of around 1,350 new dwellings and associated development to the east of Welwyn Garden City, within the administrative area of East Herts. This will act as an extension to Welwyn Garden City and help to meet the need for housing within East Herts and within the Welwyn Hatfield Housing Market Area.
  • Opportunities have been identified to facilitate the provision of 12,500 square metres new retail floorspace to meet predicted expenditure growth in the borough as set out in Table 1 through the allocation of sites within existing centres and new centres in some of the Strategic Development Sites and through existing permissions. Given the increasing shift towards online shopping, which was likely accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the future of retail remains somewhat uncertain. The Council will therefore keep policies relating to town centres and retail under review, and may bring forward revised policies if necessary.

The Council will resist any net loss in the borough’s stock of dwellings, authorised permanent Gypsy and Traveller sites and the travelling showpeople site, allocated employment land, and retail floorspace in town, neighbourhood or village centres; unless otherwise in accordance with other plan policies. Areas and sites that are key to the delivery of the growth strategy have been designated or allocated on the Policies Map.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan