The Local Plan for St Albans City and District Council has been submitted to the Government for examination.
A report on the feedback to a recent consultation said no ‘showstoppers’ or ‘red flags’ were raised that would fundamentally alter the plan or prevent it progressing.
Councillors on the planning policy and climate committee considered the report’s findings at its meeting on Thursday, November 28.
An planning inspector will now be appointed by the Government.
CllrPaul de Kort, the committee’s chair and council leader, said after the meeting: “This is a landmark moment for the district.
“The production of a Local Plan is one of the most challenging and important tasks that a council like ours must undertake.
“This plan is the culmination of over three years of hard work, countless studies, meetings and discussions, and I am proud that we have reached this stage. I would like to thank all those who have been involved including our residents who responded to the consultations we held.”
The inspector’s examination is set to start next month but not decision is expected before 2026. If it is found to be sound, it will need to be adopted by the council.
The plan allows for 15,000 new homes in the district up to 204. The figure includes 1,200 social rent properties.
The plan also provides for £750 million of new infrastructure to support the proposed new residential areas including nine primary schools, four secondary schools, improvements to public transport, locations for 15,000 jobs, and green spaces and health facilities.
Cllr de Kort said: “We have prepared the plan very carefully, taking account of the lessons of the past, and are as confident as we can be that it will pass the examination.
“It’s important that we adopt a Local Plan as soon as we can because it will offer our communities protection from piecemeal, speculative developments which we are currently vulnerable to.
“It’s these sort of developments, rather than ones which have been thoroughly planned, which put pressure on existing infrastructure such as schools and are often of major concern to residents.”
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