South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan

South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan

Neighbouring authorities are increasingly being encouraged to work together to provide the homes, jobs and infrastructure where people want to live.

Along with Dacorum Borough Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, St Albans City & District Council, and Watford Borough Council we are preparing on a Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) for the South West Hertfordshire Area (see map below).

The Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) will provide a long-term framework for the area to 2050. It will be able to consider and address issues that cross council boundaries and set out a strategic vision for the area. It will also help guide future plans and strategies by setting out high level policies on topics such as climate change, infrastructure, environmental protection, employment and housing.

By working together, the Councils are confident they will be in a stronger position to deliver, and better fund, essential local transport links, health services and educational facilities that local people want to see.

Each council will still be responsible for preparing their own Local Plan, but a Joint Strategic Plan will be the first critical stage in local planning across South West Hertfordshire, setting the strategic framework and shared priorities within which individual local plans can be prepared.

Please refer to the South West Hertfordshire Joint Strategic Plan website swhertsplan.com for more information. The website provides information about the background to the Joint Strategic Plan and its progress. It will also allow you to share your ideas with us so together we can plan for the future of the area.

Joint Strategic Plan Area Map

All five Councils have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to take the work forward. The MOU was agreed by us on 19 March 2018.

The Councils will work towards agreeing this strategic framework through preparation of a Statement of Common Ground, which is expected to be published later this year.

The following governance arrangements have also been agreed:

South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan Governance Arrangements (PDF)