Over the next six weeks, residents and businesses across Watford are being asked to share their views on the final draft Local Plan for Watford before it is sent for examination by Government later this year.
Published: 19 January 2021
The overall aim of the Local Plan is to provide a positive framework for growing and enhancing the town over the next 15 years. It shows how we will provide homes for local people, further employment opportunities, additional infrastructure and crucially how we will protect the things that are important to people like parks and open spaces, the town centre and our heritage and environment.
The Plan also details how to make the best use of the available land for the needs of Watford’s population which is projected to increase by 2036.
Elected Mayor Peter Taylor said;
‘The Local Plan is a framework for how we grow our town so that it continues to be a great place to live, work and visit. With many challenges facing the community – including climate change, the shortage of homes, revitalising the town centre, delivery of new infrastructure, providing more jobs and protecting the environment and heritage of the town – we must be bold and ambitious. This Plan is our opportunity to be exactly that, facing these issues head on to ensure Watford continues to flourish and grow in the best possible way. This means that we have our say on where development should be located, otherwise, change will happen to our town in an unplanned way, with speculative development and little benefit to local communities. A Local Plan makes sure that decisions about the future of Watford are made here in the town and not by others.’
This final draft Local Plan reflects the responses the council received from residents, the business community and other organisations during the first two stages of consultation in 2018 and 2019. The Council wants to thank all those whose comments and suggestions are reflected in this document.
The final draft Local Plan will be available to view at www.watfordlocalplan.co.uk, and the consultation will be live from lunchtime 18 January to the end of the 1 March 2021. Due to Covid-19 all consultation will be online.*
A summary leaflet will also be distributed to every household in the Borough.
