Issue details

In December 2024, the Government revised it's national planning advice in respect of green belts, and advised all local planning authorities with green belt within their areas to conduct a review against the revised advice. To this end, the Government has made funding available to any local authority with green belt to pursue this review and East Herts Council, jointly with North Herts Council and Stevenage Council, have secured £210K for the task via the MHCLG Green Belt review funding (2024-25) [No31/7665].
The work requires an understanding of national planning policy guidance in respect of the green belt, and experience in carrying out such work, and as such is limited in respect of possible suppliers. The leading consultant in the field is LUC ('Land Use Consultants'). LUC are currently working on green belt assessments in the neighbouring authorities of Broxbourne and Welwyn Hatfield, and are conducting landscape work in North Hertfordshire. This is in addition to work that they undertake across England. The combination of their experience and local knowledge makes LUC the best choice to pursue the assessment.

The Council is keen to progress a review of the green belt speedily in light of the Government's changes. This is required to support the progression of the district's new District Plan, but also to support decisions on planning applications that are made speculatively in areas of green belt that may be more likely following both the changes to the interpretation of the green belt and the district's increasing housing need.
The LUC proposal (attached) sets out a methodology that would meet the needs of the planning function of the Council over the next 9 months, and is staged so as to both test the methodology and deliver early advice that can provide support and assistance from an early stage. The proposal sits within the allocated award (estimated cost of £185K against an award of £210K) which allows both for contingency and amendments to the methodology if required, and places no additional financial burdens upon the Council. It meets the requirement of the Government in having a plan and a timetable to progress the work.