Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SP 22 North West Hatfield - SDS5

Land at north west Hatfield is allocated for development in this Local Plan to accommodate approximately 1,750 new homes over the plan period.

A masterplan setting out the quantum and distribution of land uses, access, sustainable design and layout principles will be agreed by the Council, working with the landowners and other key stakeholders. The Masterplan, which will be informed by the Strategy Diagram in Figure 14 below, will form the basis of a Supplementary Planning Document which will provide further guidance on site specific matters. Any application for development should be preceded by and consistent with the masterplan.

The site will be planned comprehensively to create a new sustainable neighbourhood incorporating principles of high quality design.

In accordance with the relevant policies of this Local Plan the site will provide:

  • A wide mix of housing types, sizes and tenures, including a minimum of 25% of all units as affordable housing unless it can be robustly demonstrated that such a proportion would not be viable; housing for older people; and serviced plots of land to contribute towards meeting evidenced demand for self-build and custom housebuilding;
  • Gypsy and Traveller provision sufficient to accommodate a total of 15 pitches (with 4 of these pitches off-site at site HS33/GTLAA08);
  • A neighbourhood centre in an accessible location to meet the day-to-day retail needs of new residents;
  • An employment area in a visible and accessible location in accordance with an up-to-date assessment of need;
  • Community facilities, including healthcare and leisure facilities;
  • A new secondary school site of up to 8 forms of entry (with expansion potential to 10 FE) and associated playing facilities east of Green Lanes. The site will be made available early in the build period;
  • Provision of 3 forms of entry at primary school level, in the form of new schools within SDS5 and /or linked to the secondary school as an ‘all through school’ and/or in the form of an expansion of Green Lanes primary school. All schools should provide for the dual use of facilities for community purposes;
  • Sustainable transport measures including the improvement of pedestrian links, cycle paths, passenger transport and community transport initiatives;
  • Suitable access arrangements and any necessary wider strategic and local highway mitigation measures, including to address impacts on Coopers Green Lane, Green Lanes, the A1001 and locations at or around Junction 4 of the A1(M). Off-site highway works required in connection with the development of this site will require a new or improved cycle/pedestrian footbridge or underpass facilities above or below the A1(M).
  • Formal and informal open spaces for leisure and recreation, including play areas, sports fields, allotments and community orchards. Spaces will contribute to wider ecological networks including a strategic green infrastructure corridor from St Albans through to Hertford. As such, spaces should:
    • be accessible to both new and existing communities;
    • provide north-south and east-west connections, providing upgraded routes for walkers and cyclists;
    • provide safe routes for wildlife, protecting and enhancing wildlife assets;
    • balance the needs of recreation and nature, providing suitable animal habitats and undisturbed areas.
  • Conservation and, where appropriate, enhancement of heritage assets and their settings, in particular the setting of Old Cottage, through careful masterplanning and appropriate mitigation measures, having regard to the findings of the Heritage Impact Assessment;
  • Landscaping and planting;
  • Necessary new utilities infrastructure, in particular upgrades to the local sewerage network and electricity supply network, also including integrated communications infrastructure to facilitate home-working; and
  • Sustainable drainage and provision for flood mitigation.

In order to ensure that the site is planned and delivered comprehensively, any application for development on part of the site will be assessed against its contribution to the Masterplan, and will not prejudice the implementation of development of the site as a whole.

The developer must demonstrate the extent of the mineral that may be present and the likelihood of prior extraction in an environmentally acceptable way has been fully considered. As a minimum, an assessment of the depth and quality of mineral, together with an appraisal of the consequential viability for prior extraction without prejudicing the delivery of housing within the plan period should be provided.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan