Local Plan – call for potential development sites in St Albans District to be put forward

Landowners, builders and other interested groups are asked to put forward sites within St Albans District which might be suitable for development.

St Albans City and District Council is preparing a Local Plan that will identify land for future housing, commercial and infrastructure developments over the next 15 years.

As part of this work, it is issuing a “call for sites” – allowing organisations and individuals to propose potential development areas for the Council to consider.

Suggested sites should be large enough for at least five homes or 500 square metres of business space.

Land can be also be proposed for a change of use to some other purposes.

These include tree planting, renewable and low carbon energy production, biodiversity initiatives and traveller camps.

Sites can be put forward from now until 5pm on Monday 8 March.

They will then be assessed to see if they are sustainable, suitable and capable of delivering the Council’s objectives. The most appropriate will be subject to public consultation.

Councillor Jamie Day, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said:

The call for sites is one of the first steps in creating a Local Plan for the District.

All sites that are put forward will be carefully considered to see if they can help achieve our housing and employment targets together with other objectives such as providing the infrastructure needed for growth and opportunities for tree planting or biodiversity improvements.

Creating a Local Plan is one of the most important and challenging tasks undertaken by a local authority.

As we move forward, we will be consulting intensively with residents, community groups and other interested organisations before any decisions are taken.

Anyone wishing to put forward a site, should do so online here: https://stalbans-consult.objective.co.uk/common/register.jsp and include a GIS shapefile if possible.

Alternatively, they can email the Council’s Spatial Planning Team at  planning.policy@stalbans.gov.uk  or post details to them at the Civic Centre, St Peters Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE.

The call for sites is an exercise formally called the Housing Economic Land Availability Assessment.

Any sites that have already been put forward to the Council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment since 2009 do not have to be resubmitted unless there is significant updated information.

Councillor contact:
Councillor Jamie Day, Portfolio Holder for Planning for St Albans City and District Council: cllr.j.day@stalbans.gov.uk.

Media contact: 
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council: 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.