St Albans City and District Council is carrying out a public consultation on a draft Strategic Local Plan for the District of St Albans.  The six week consultation begins on Friday 10 October.  It ends on Sunday 23 November. A Strategic Local Plan, when adopted, provides overarching policies and principles for what can be built and where.  All local authorities are required to have such a plan for future development. There is a web consultation portal on the Council’s website where people can give their views (http://stalbans-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal). A public information booklet setting out key issues and questions has been produced.  This booklet and supporting technical documents are also accessible through the online portal. In addition, printed copies are available through libraries, and District, Town and Parish Council offices. As part of the consultation, public exhibitions and surgeries will take place around the District:

There are questions in the consultation on a proposed approach to economic development, housing need, affordable housing and infrastructure.  Various development options are set out. A number of independently conducted studies inform the draft Plan, including a housing needs assessment and a review of the Green Belt. Consultation questions are asked about whether there are ‘exceptional circumstances’, as legally defined, that make it appropriate to change to Green Belt boundaries.  Views are also sought on which Green Belt land to release for development if that becomes necessary. Evidence is provided for various tracts of land including:

• 2,500 homes at the western most part of the District, to the west of the M1, next to Hemel Hempstead (two sites, including significant economic development land);
• 1,000 homes to the east of St Albans on land at Oaklands College;
• 500 homes to the north west of Harpenden.

The Council does not have free rein to decide its Local Plan.  It must comply with the law and Government policy, in particular that related to the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance. A Local Plan must also comply with planning case law and be based on proportionate and justifiable evidence. The consultation is not just about housing.  It covers a number of other matters for example, infrastructure, retail, leisure, community facilities and industrial/business development. The Council will use information gathered in the consultation to inform its decision making process for the final drafting of the Strategic Local Plan.