Local Plan - General Information
Local Plans are prepared by every Council in the country to address conservation and development issues, setting out policies on these matters. The Local Plan provides the basis for making decisions on planning applications.
Local Plan
The Local Plan for Stevenage, also known as the District Plan, was adopted in December 2004 and sets out the policies and proposals for controlling and allocating development and for protecting and enhancing the environment. Policies in the plan that are relevant to a planning application will be used when determining the application.
As a result of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, local plans will be replaced by Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). Unlike local plans, the new LDF will be a series of documents. In combination with the regional spatial strategy (RSS) for the East of England the LDF will set out the statutory development and planning framework for Stevenage. The Hertfordshire Structure Plan 1998 will continue to exist and will have statutory force until the new RSS and LDF are in place.
Once in place, it will be the policies in the LDF that are used when determining planning applications.
Click here for further information on the Local Development Framework.
Special Projects
Special projects carried out by us cover work on the development of Stevenage West as well as work on the town centre and business sites.
When considering special projects, we have particular responsibilities for:
- initiating and developing policies which lead to positive change and the regeneration of run-down areas,
- preparing and promoting an environmental enhancement programme,
- investigating and where appropriate bidding for regeneration funds from Government and other sources,
- drafting development and design briefs and enhancement schemes,
- working in consultation with local communities, corporately within The Council and with other agencies and partnerships when developing strategies and programmes.