Examination of the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011-2031
Update from the further hearing sessions Nov/Dec 2020
On 25th November the Inspector advised that North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) had submitted a note to him regarding site BK3 in Barkway.
This can be viewed via this link and looking at document reference ED210:
https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-plan/local-plan-examination/further-hearing-sessions-2020/hearing-sessions
NHDC now propose to delete site BK3 in its entirety from the Local Plan. NHDC also now proposes to keep Barkway within the ‘Category A’ villages within the settlement hierarchy, rather than identifying it as a ‘Village for Growth’ as previously proposed, for the reasons set out in the document ED210.
As a result of this, the Inspector will now not be discussing Barkway or Site BK3 at the hearing session for Matter 25 on 3rd December or at the Matter 26 hearing session on 8th December. Instead he will be arranging for an entirely separate hearing session focussing on the modifications that NHDC now propose. This will be a virtual hearing session hosted on Zoom, and is likely to be held in either January or February of the new year.
An update will be given again once the date has been advised.
Whilst this is all seemingly good news, the Parish Council is exercising very cautious optimism, as ultimately it will be the decision of the Inspector as to whether he allows these modifications to be made to the Local Plan and his conclusion will likely not be known until well into next year.
In addition, there is still an undetermined outline planning application for site BK3, which NHDC are currently consulting on again. The deadline to submit any additional comments on this application is 4th December 2020.
This can be viewed by the following link and typing in reference 18/01502/OP in the search bar:
https://pa2.north-herts.gov.uk/online-applications/
The Parish Council will be submitting further comments in objection to this outline planning application.
This can be viewed via this link and looking at document reference ED210:
https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-plan/local-plan-examination/further-hearing-sessions-2020/hearing-sessions
NHDC now propose to delete site BK3 in its entirety from the Local Plan. NHDC also now proposes to keep Barkway within the ‘Category A’ villages within the settlement hierarchy, rather than identifying it as a ‘Village for Growth’ as previously proposed, for the reasons set out in the document ED210.
As a result of this, the Inspector will now not be discussing Barkway or Site BK3 at the hearing session for Matter 25 on 3rd December or at the Matter 26 hearing session on 8th December. Instead he will be arranging for an entirely separate hearing session focussing on the modifications that NHDC now propose. This will be a virtual hearing session hosted on Zoom, and is likely to be held in either January or February of the new year.
An update will be given again once the date has been advised.
Whilst this is all seemingly good news, the Parish Council is exercising very cautious optimism, as ultimately it will be the decision of the Inspector as to whether he allows these modifications to be made to the Local Plan and his conclusion will likely not be known until well into next year.
In addition, there is still an undetermined outline planning application for site BK3, which NHDC are currently consulting on again. The deadline to submit any additional comments on this application is 4th December 2020.
This can be viewed by the following link and typing in reference 18/01502/OP in the search bar:
https://pa2.north-herts.gov.uk/online-applications/
The Parish Council will be submitting further comments in objection to this outline planning application.
