Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SP 6 Community Services and Facilities

The Council will make sure that communities can easily access a range of community services and facilities by:

  • Guarding against the loss of existing community facilities;
  • Allowing for the expansion or enhancement of existing community facilities to assist continuing viability, particularly in areas where new development will increase demand;
  • Promoting accessible, strategic locations, particularly town centres, for community facilities and services that serve a wider area than local neighbourhoods or villages;
  • Working with developers, partners, the community and voluntary sector, on the wider use of buildings, dual use and co-location of services in accessible places and also to address gaps in existing provision;
  • Supporting alternative community uses for community facilities that are no longer needed for their current purpose;
  • Making sure that existing community facilities and services are improved to meet the day-to-day needs of new and existing residents;
  • and Requiring new neighbourhoods to provide for needs of the new communities created by that development.

Additionally, the Council will support:

  • The upgrading of facilities where there are known to be gaps in provision, or where existing facilities no longer meet modern day requirements;
  • The provision of new facilities where there are known gaps in provision;
  • Schemes to open up private or restricted-access facilities to the public; and
  • Support the provision of new sports facilities serving a wider area than neighbourhoods or villages at existing sports hubs.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan