Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

There we no apologies for absence.

The Chair reminded Members and Officers to use their microphones as the meeting was being webcasted.

The Chair explained an additional recommendation would be added to each motion and decision being taken and this would be that any minor amendments to the context of the report would be delegated to the Director for Place in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Growth.

To receive any Member(s)’ Declaration(s) of Interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 19 May 2026.

Councillor Crystall proposed, and Councillor Dumont seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2026 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2026, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Team Leader (Planning Policy) presented a report seeking approval of the Green Belt Assessment Report (Appendix A) and the accompanying parcel assessment maps (Appendix B) as part of the evidence base for the new Local Plan.

Members were advised that the report covered the key findings of the green belt assessment and seeks agreement to use the document as part of the new local plan evidence base and to inform development management decisions.

The Team Leader (Planning Policy) said that the assessment had been commissioned jointly with North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Borough Councils using MHCLG grant funding. The work was required due to changes in national planning policy relating to the green belt, including the introduction of the concept of grey belt.

Members were advised that Appendix A contained an outline of the methodology and results with a general narrative around the issues raised by green belt and grey belt. The report also covered locally defined matters including which settlements were considered to be large built-up areas and historic towns for the purpose of the review.

The Team Leader (Planning Policy) said that the accompanying assessments covered around 260 parcels of land which were defined in East Herts and for each parcel, Appendix B contains a map and a description of the parcel, an assessment against each of the purposes of green belt and a conclusion about whether or not it was grey belt.

Officers explained that the assessment provides crucial information and evidence to determine how green belt and grey belt issues may fit into an overall local plan strategy. The sole aim of the work was to look at the performance of the existing green belt against the 5 purposes of green belt, which were:

(A)      to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas.

(B)      to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another.

(C)      to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.

(D)      to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns.

(E)       to assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.

The Team Leader (Planning Policy) said that grey belt was defined as any land in the green belt that did not perform strongly against purposes A, B and D. He emphasised that rules and regulations around green belt and green belt assessments were clearly set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and national planning policy guidance.

Members were advised that grey belt was still green belt and government guidance required councils to look at all options for meeting development needs before looking at green belt and the release of green belt was a last resort.

The Team Leader (Planning Policy) said that grey belt land was sequentially preferable if green belt was required to meet development needs. The Panel was advised that officers would be using other evidence alongside the green belt assessment to develop the strategy.

Members were advised that although grey belt was defined by purposes A, B and D, the assessment does  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the council’s latest Retail and Town Centre Study was completed in 2013 and an updated study, found at appendices A and B of the report, had been prepared to provide the latest retail and town centre needs position in the district, and support the preparation of the new local plan.

Members were advised that the study also provides an evidence base to support future development management decisions. There had been many changes that have occurred nationally that have impacted retail and town centres since 2013.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the study identifies the latest changes to the retail market, forecast and future retail and leisure needs for the district, assesses and recommends changes to the existing retail polices where appropriate and assesses the health of the 5 town centres within the district.

The Panel was advised that the study provided a baseline that would help to inform future town centre strategies. The study was supported by various data sets including forecasting and population information and occupancy information. Research had also been undertaken including stakeholder engagement and also business and household surveys.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the study had forecasted the needs of the convenience floorspace and comparison floor space. She said that in both scenarios, there was no quantitative need to plan or allocate new sites for new convenience or comparison goods floor space within the plan period.

The Panel was advised that whilst there was scope for improvements in the district in terms of commercial leisure needs, there was no need to specifically allocate sites for new leisure facilities, and a more flexible approach was recommended to allow for these uses within town centres.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the study assessed the role of Madford Retail Park and concluded that, while it made a modest contribution to comparison retail provision overall, it played a more significant role in terms of market share for DIY and garden retail needs. It was recommended that any future redevelopment proposals at Madford Retail Park should be required to justify the loss of existing retail uses and any proposed future mix of uses.

Members were advised that the study also reviewed the existing retail hierarchy, the sequential and impact tests and provides recommendations for future policy changes. The study recommends changes to the town centre boundaries and primary shopping areas based on where the town centre or non-town centre uses are located.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer advised that the study reviewed each of the town centres and creates a health check for each place and a SWOT assessment based upon strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The health checks focus on accessibility, the environment and public realm, mix of uses, vacancies, frequency of visits, trading prospects and consumer views and behaviours.

Members were advised that the towns in the district were found to be in good or relatively good health. There were however a number of ways in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The meeting reconvened at 20:40 (8:40 pm).

The Principal Planning Policy Officer submitted a report regarding the Hertford and Ware Employment Study and inviting the Panel to agree that it can be used as part of the evidence base for the new Local Plan and as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Members were advised that the Hertford and Ware Employment Study was the third in a series of reports covering the employment position in the main towns. The Executive had already approved reports in Bishop’s Stortford and Buntingford, and this report covered the closely related settlements of Hertford and Ware.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that using desktop research, officer employment site visits and feedback from local market agents, the employment study provides an updated assessment of the employment market in Hertford and Ware. Members were advised that the report made recommendations about the types of land and jobs that were likely to be required.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer advised that the study area was defined to be large enough to accommodate the planned development north and east of Ware. The study updates the previous 2016 study and recognises changes in the towns employment sectors. This includes major new development in Hertford, losses of employment land at Mead Lane in Hertford and Crane Mead in Ware.

Members were referred to societal changes due to Covid and Brexit and also in the use classes order, which allows greater flexibility for business to change between employment, retail and community uses without planning permission. There were also some crossovers between the retail and town centre study work presented under the previous agenda item.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the report covers the conclusions and recommendations of the study at paragraphs 3.5 to 3.12 covering key points and these were summarised for the panel. Members should note that there was a typographical error in the policy context section where the planning period for the Sele Neighbourhood Period was set out as starting in 2021 as opposed to 2018.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that when considered alongside other studies within the evidence base, including all the town employment studies, a district wide employment demand assessment and land supply work, the Hertford and Ware Employment Study would effectively support decisions about the future economic strategy for both towns.

Members were being asked to agree that the study becomes part of the evidence base for the new local plan and was a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The Panel chair welcomed the report and said that she was pleased to see that large GSK site has been revitalised with River Labs taking over the spare space on the site. She said that although the site had contracted slightly, she was pleased to see that the employment space on the land had been protected.

The Panel commented on the small independent and professional companies in Hertford. Members of the Panel referred to the commentary in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer submitted a report regarding the Sawbridgeworth Employment Study and inviting the Panel to agree that it can be used as part of the evidence base for the new Local Plan and as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Members were advised that the Sawbridgeworth Employment Study attached at Appendix A was the fourth and final study covering the employment positions in the main towns. The study provides an assessment of the employment market in the town and makes recommendations about the type of jobs and employment land likely to be required. This was the first such study for Sawbridgeworth and the town had a much smaller land employment land market than the other main towns.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer advised that Sawbridgeworth did not have any designated employment sites in the district plan. The Panel was advised however that as a main town, officers felt that it was important that Sawbridgeworth was included to ensure that there was a comprehensive understanding of all the main urban areas in the district.

Members were advised that, as with the other towns, local employment sectors had been shaped by societal changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit alongside the changes to the use class order which allows businesses more flexibility to change between uses without planning permission.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that with a focus on both office and industrial sectors, there was once again also some crossovers with the retail and town centre study work. To ensure that all of the built-up area of Sawbridgeworth was included with the analysis, the study area also covers Lower Sheering in Epping Forest district and draws on the advice of local commercial agents.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the report covers the conclusions and recommendations in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.10 of the study and covered in particular on three key points and these were summarised for the Panel.

Members were advised that the study revealed that the population growth for Sawbridgeworth had been relatively modest and many residents out commute. The scale of pressure for new office and industrial employment land is not significant, and new land was unlikely to limit the scale of out commuting.

The Panel was advised that the study concludes that employment growth is better focussed within the larger centres such as Harlow and Gilston Garden Town and Bishop’s Stortford. The study recognises employment opportunities should be protected and encouraged in Sawbridgeworth, and this includes potentially safeguarding existing employment clusters and supporting opportunities for infill development and refurbishment.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that, when considered alongside other studies within the evidence base, the Sawbridgeworth Employment Study will effectively support decisions about the future economic strategy for Sawbridgeworth.

The Panel was advised that this report asks Members to agree that the study becomes part of the evidence base for the new local plan and was a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer submitted a report that set out that Members had agreed to prepare a new Local Plan including an update of the evidence documents needed to support the new Plan.

Members were advised that the Indoor Sport Needs Assessment and Strategy provided updated and robust evidence to support the new local plan and development management decisions, thereby replacing the previous 2017 study.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the first part of the sports evidence, the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy, was endorsed by the Executive at the end of 2025. This study on indoor sport-built facilities was the second part of the evidence in relation to sport requirements in East Herts and replaces the previous 2017 study.

The Panel was advised that the study had been developed collaboratively, in accordance with Sport England guidance, and the report assesses the supply of and demand for indoor sports facilities and sets out a framework for protecting and enhancing existing facilities and providing new facilities, to meet future needs.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that since the latest assessment in 2017 housing growth, together with changes to leisure facilities, has reshaped both the demand for and supply of provision. Notably, there has been the closure of some public leisure provision and significant development of a number of new sport halls.

Members were advised that paragraph 3.4 of the report summarises the findings of the needs assessment attached at Appendix B. In general, East Herts residents have access to a range of good quality sports facilities and closure of the three public leisure centres had created a small amount of localised unmet demand for swimming pools particularly to the north of the district where residents had to travel further to access a pool.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the community group plans to reopen Ward Freman pool would positively help to address the unmet demand while also reducing travel time. Other key findings included the reliance on education facilities for sports hall provision, the important role played by community and village halls as locations for sport and physical activity in rural areas.

Members were advised of an identified club demand for more space for Badminton, Gymnastics and Padel. There are a number of strategic site allocations in the adopted District Plan that are yet to be built out, and it is important that Gilston Leisure Centre is delivered, and the community use of new secondary school sports facilities are secured to meet the needs of future growth.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer said that the strategy document, Appendix C to the report, provides a framework for the provision, maintenance and improvement of indoors sports facilities. Key highlights include the importance of working with developers to deliver new facilities, the need to protect existing facilities, the need to ensure new development supports the provision of enhancement of facilities to address demand and the importance of securing community use agreements at education sites.

Members were advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

There was no urgent business.

If Part II business is notified and the procedures set out in the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 have been complied with, the Chairman will move:

- That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of item XX on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph XX of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

There was no urgent part two business.