The East of England Plan was published on 12th
May 2008. This document sets out the scale, broad location and
timing of future development across the region. It covers the
counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire
and Bedfordshire.
Key Objectives
- To reduce the region’s impact on, and exposure to, the effects
of climate change.
- To address housing shortages in the region.
- To realise the economic potential of the region and its
people.
- To improve the quality of life for the people of the
region.
- To improve and conserve the region’s environment.
The main strategy
The main strategy is to concentrate development
at the region’s cities and other significant urban areas including
selected market towns. These are called key centres for
development and change: they include Hemel Hempstead, Hatfield and
Welwyn Garden City, Watford and Luton/Dunstable/Houghton
Regis/Leighton Linslade. New development, is proposed in the
context of the creation of sustainable communities, reductions in
carbon emissions and adopting a precautionary approach to climate
change. The reuse of previously developed land is encouraged: there
is a target for 60% of development to be accommodated on previously
developed land.
Green belt
Strategic reviews of green belt boundaries are
advocated to meet regional development needs at:
- Stevenage, involving land in Stevenage and North Hertfordshire;
and
- Harlow, involving land in Harlow, East Hertfordshire and Epping
Forest Districts; and
A more local review will be required in
Broxbourne.
The need for Green Belt reviews at Hemel
Hempstead and Welwyn/Hatfield are binge reconsidered by the
Secretary of State following a High court decision in July
2009.
Employment
Strategic employment sites should be provided
in the most important places in the region. This includes Hemel
hempstead where new employment will assist regeneration and ensure
growth in key sectors (of the ecomony) and business clusters.
Housing
Local planning authorites should facilitate the
delivery of at least 508,000 net additional dwellings over the
period 2001 to 2021. Taking account of completions of 105,550
between 2001 and 2006 the minimum regional housing target 2006 to
2021 is 402,540.
There is no dwellings target for Dacorum
and Welwyn-Hatfield (and therefore Hertfordshire) because of
the High Court decision quashing Green Belt reviews and the major
urban extensions which had been proposed. Following reconsideration
of these issues by the Secretary of State, the Council
expects a dwellings target to be given.
Planning for Gypsies and Traveller Accommodation in the East of
England.
A new policy was inserted into the Regional
Plan in July 2009. It allocates the number of pitches that should
be provided in each district.
For further information please use the above
website contact; or www.goeast.gov.uk (opens in new
window); or if you wish to speak to one of the GoEast Regional
Planning Team, 01223 372772.