Government provides funding to support new Local Plan

East Herts Council has secured over £108,000 in government funding to support the development of a new Local Plan.

The funding follows the introduction of new Local Plan Regulations, which set out how local  planning policies are prepared.

Public consultation on the new Local Plan was paused last year whilst the council waited for the new regulations to be published. However, the council continued with essential preparatory and technical work to ensure it can move forward quickly once the process begins.  

The council will now formally start plan-making in June, followed by a six-week period of initial engagement on the scope of the new Local Plan.

Councillor Vicky Glover-Ward, Executive Member for Planning and Growth at East Herts Council, said: "We're really pleased to have secured this funding, which will help us deliver this important work. Because we’ve had time while waiting for the new regulations, we’re now in a strong position to hit the ground running.

"One of our first priorities will be to get back out into our communities to make sure we're capturing key challenges and priorities from the outset.

"Decisions about development and new housing are never straightforward, which is why having a new plan in place is so important. It provides a clear blueprint for where growth can happen sustainably and with the right infrastructure to support it."