Consultation on housing sites in North Herts

In south west of Hitchin between 6,000and 7,400 homes could be built (Image: Archant)

Over the next 18 years thousands of homes need to be built across Comet country, according to Government targets and North Herts District Council is now asking people where they think they should go.

Seven sites proposed for development (Image: Archant)

People will be asked to consider a number of sites which are on green belt land and have their say on which is most suitable for development between now and 2031.

The sites, including seven larger strategic sites which could contain more than 1,000 homes each, have all been proposed by landowners and the developers.

The seven larger sites are located: south west of Hitchin, north of Letchworth GC, east of Luton, Rush Green which would become a new village, north of Stevenage, north east of Stevenage and west of Stevenage.

These are in addition to 130 proposed smaller developments including in Baldock and Royston.

Cllr Tom Brindley, responsible for North Herts’ planning, said: “This consultation is an incredibly important one for the future of North Herts.

“A number of sites have been identified by developers and landowners and now the council will need to choose between them as it prepares its new Local Plan – the document that sets the planning policies for the years ahead.

“I would urge everyone to find out more about these proposed sites and get involved with the consultation in whatever way they can. We want people to help us identify how many new homes we need, and where they should be built.

“The homes will need to go somewhere, and we hope that people can provide us with as much information as possible about why they support one particular site for development over another.

“Clearly that will be more useful to us than just saying why they think one of the sites is not appropriate.”

Stevenage Borough Council are set to consult on their Local Plan in June.