The long running Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan saga is set to continue after the planning inspector called for more consultations to take place following modifications.

Melvyn Middleton wrote to the council to advise that consultations must take place on additional modifications, known as Further Main Modifications, to the emerging Local Plan.

The most recent consultation, held by the council on the inspector’s behalf at the beginning of 2023, proposed a wide range of main modifications to the plan.

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The new consultation, which opened today (June 12) and will run until July 30, will focus on a narrower range of items.

This will be carried out by the council’s independent programme officer, with reponses collated through Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's online platform before being sent to the officer.

"We are aware of the inspector’s intention to carry out a further consultation on a small number of points that have arisen this year," Councillor Jane Quinton, executive member for planning and regeneration. 

"The need for additional consultation is a matter for the inspector and on this occasion is not something that the council has been asked to do by him.

"We originally expected to receive the inspector’s final report this month, but we understand that this will now be provided later in the summer."

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The Local Plan saga has rumbled on for more than a decade, with talks originally taking place back in 2012, before a plan was submitted in 2017.

Issues around housing targets and building on land around Brookmans Park and Cuffley have seen the plan pushed back and back.

The problems went as far a national government, with letters written by the council being sent to former Prime Minister's Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, as well as levelling up, housing and communities secretary Michael Gove, to clarify concerns the council was having.

In January, Welwyn West's Conservative councillor Sunny Thusu claimed the Local Plan had been "hamstrung by the inflexibility of the inspector", but just days later, a plan was finally agreed at a full council meeting.

Consultations are open until July 30, and you can have your say by clicking www.welhat.gov.uk/local-plan-examination