Environment
Dacorum Local Plan
Background
Following completion of the consultation process, Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) submitted the draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 11 March 2025. The new Plan entitled ‘Revised Strategy for Growth’ covers the period to 2041.
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has appointed Planning Inspectors Mr Matthew Birkinshaw BA MSc MRTPI and Mr Thomas Bristow BA MSc MRTPI to carry out the Public Examination of the Plan.
The Stage 1 hearings of the examination will be held in the Dacorum Council Chamber in The Forum in the Marlowes over four days commencing on Tuesday 16th September 2025. The purpose of these hearings is to ensure the Plan is legally compliant and has been soundly prepared in accordance with national policy. Details of the hearings can be viewed at https://letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk/examination-hearing-sessions.
The two inspectors are also carrying out the Public Examination of the St Albans Local Plan (see the ‘East Hemel Development’ page on the website).
The Inspectors have announced a stand-alone Stage 2 examination of the Dacorum Local Plan will be held on Tuesday 21st October 2025. This will be a joint session with St Albans City and District Council (SADC) to consider strategic matters relating to the Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) proposals. The session will be part of the Stage 2 hearings of the SADC Local Plan in the Civic Centre in St Albans. Details of these hearings are in the East Hemel Development page on this website.
Stage 3 hearings of the Dacorum Local Plan will be held in November and December 2025 to examine the remaining aspects of the Plan including the sites which form part of the HGC. Full details can be found at: https://letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk/hub-page/newlocalplan
The Plan
The plan proposes the building of 11,696 new homes up to 2040 which is 10% more than envisaged in 2020. The plan includes proposals for at least 6 new primary schools and 2 new secondary schools as well as a revised hospital hub and new healthcare provision including extended and upgraded GP surgeries and health hubs. The town centre will be regenerated and there will be sustainable transport improvements including the regeneration of Hemel Hempstead train station. The Plan can been found at: https://letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk/hub-page/newlocalplan
A proportion of these homes will be built as part of the Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) https://www.hemelgardencommunities.co.uk
The HGC project includes 4,000 homes to be built in St Albans City and District (SADC) on land owned by The Crown Estate. This development known as East Hemel is included in the SADC Local Plan, and 2,400 of houses will be located in East Hemel South adjacent to Leverstock Green. Full details can be found on the East Hemel Development page on the website
Westwick Row Development
The only new housing development within the DBC boundary affecting Leverstock Green is a proposal to build 75 – 80 homes on Crown Estate land south of Green Lane adjacent to Westwick Row. The Crown Estate has appointed TOWN to manage this project.
The site is the remainder of the old Westwick Farm which was earmarked for housing many years ago. LGVA has expressed a number of concerns about this development including the further loss of green space, the history of flooding in the Green Lane area, the proposed density of the housing and the need to ensure access to the development is not from Westwick Row.
Map taken from above website link.
Dark Grey Site: Current St Margarets Way development
Dark Green Site: South of Green Lane proposed development
At an Exhibition on the 12th July 2025 at the Leverstock Green CofE Primary School, TOWN presented their final consultation before submitting planning application this Autumn.
The Exhibition Boards are presented below. Please click the bottom right corner to scroll through the pages (left corner to go back).