Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan, Reg 18 – Feb 2026, our consultation response

CPRE Hertfordshire presents our analysis and submission to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council regarding their draft Local Plan – February 2026. We are deeply concerned by many aspects of the Plan. We believe the plan over-emphasises economic development (versus social and environmental objectives) and lacks proper consideration of the countryside except as land to be built on. Our concerns are presented under the following headings:

Vision and objectives

Lack of protection of the Green Belt as a strategic objective for the Plan

Grey belt concerns

Spatial strategy and policies

Overprovision of housing

Allocations and alternative sites for consideration

Failure to address climate change, biodiversity and nature

Underestimation of the opportunities for regeneration and reuse of land

Infrastructure provision

Water and waste utilities

Use the download buttons below to read our full consultation response, and also to see our detailed site analysis.

These can be used to support your own consultation response. Please note that we do not intend to comment on individual sites, but we do encourage all interested parties to comment on specific sites of concern.

Comments on the Plan can be submitted to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council by 26^th March 2026 either

via email to localplanconsultation@welhat.gov.uk

or submitted via the Council’s online consultation portal at https://welwynhatfieldlocalplan.commonplace.is/