St Albans planning not yet decided
No decisions have been taken about what will be contained in the new St Albans planning blueprint which has been out for consultation.
St Albans planning portfolio holder, Cllr Chris Brazier, is concerned that too many people think decisions have already been taken on the core strategy document which will contribute to the Local District Framework which replaces what was always known previously as the District Plan.
And he stressed this week that there was still time for the submission of late responses to the core strategy document which deals with issues and options even though the consultation period officially ended on Monday.
He also pointed out that comments did not have to be on the whole of the document but could be just on particular issues which concerned people.
Cllr Brazier was at last week's well-attended exhibition in Harpenden about proposals contained in a document from South Beds Council which proposes 26,000 new homes by 2021, many of which could be built in the Slip End/Caddington area close to the border with the town.
He discovered from talking to people there that there was a great deal of misunderstanding about the St Albans Local District Framework which many people thought had already been adopted.
He said: "Some people hadn't read the core strategy document and didn't realise they could respond to an issue which particularly affects them.
The Local District Framework will become the council's planning blueprint for the next 14 years once it is adopted
As well as singling out eight Green Belt sites in the district where 400 or more new homes could be accommodated, the core document also seeks views on locations for a possible park-and-ride scheme, suitable sites for food stores and new mixed-use development opportunities.
The council has had to examine the possibility of developing Green Belt sites because of the uncertainty which surrounds regional housing targets. Currently St Albans has to build 7,200 new homes by 2021 but that figure is expected to rise because the Government wants to see additional house-building in the East of England.
Other councils bordering the district are also carrying out the same exercise and their proposals could well impinge on St Albans.
Cllr Brazier stressed that nothing had been agreed about the St Albans strategy yet and added: "It is about issues and options and out of this will come the consultation document. The blueprint will then come out of the consultation.
Date: Thursday 13th September, 2007
Source: Herts 24
