Planning for the future

• Which District am I in?

  Settlements in Hertfordshire and which District or Borough they are in

The County Council has several different strategic planning and development control duties.

The County Council decides on all planning applications involving mineral workings and waste management activities, as well as enforcing any planning conditions.

We are required to prepare a Waste and Minerals Development Framework for the county. This sets planning policies for mineral extraction and waste management in the county. It also identifies potentially suitable sites for facilities.

County Council applications

The County Council determines planning applications for services it provides, such as schools, libraries and roads.

Transport planning

The department develops policies for transport in Hertfordshire and produces a Local Transport Plan setting strategic objectives for the county’s transport system. We also ensure that these policies and objectives are reflected in district council’s Local Development Frameworks.

Forward planning

For the last few years, planning for long-term growth has been the responsibility of regional bodies. The county council has been required to advise them and we have been working to influence the scale, location and quality of growth in the county. We also carry out work to identify the supporting infrastructure that new development will require.

The plan making system is currently being reviewed by the government and a new system will be introduced by the Localism Bill.

We are also responsible for monitoring and providing information on spatial planning in the county.

Planning advice and information

The county council provides advice to local planning authorities on the potential highway and environmental impacts of planning applications they are considering.