District Plan - New Housing Developments

March 2021 update on West Road - A report from the County Councillor on the current situation with the West Road development sites

Update 2021 - A letter from the Mayor of Sawbridgeworth to East Herts District Council on commencement of the two sites off West Road

The District Plan
“The District Plan sets out East Herts District Council’s planning framework for the district. It identifies how East Herts will grow and develop to become an even more desirable and prosperous place to live, work and visit. It covers the period 2011 – 2033. Once adopted the policies in the District Plan will replace the policies in the Local Plan 2007.” EHDC Pre-submission Consultation 2016.

The Timetable
The latest information we have is that following receipt of the Inspector's Final Report on the Examination of the District Plan, an Extraordinary Council meeting of EHDC has been arranged for Tuesday 11th September, at which the District Council will be asked to adopt the Plan. The agenda will be available on the EHDC calendar of meetings web page in the week preceding the meeting.
Once adopted there is a three-month pause to allow any possible applications for a judicial review. This implies that planning applications cannot be considered before early 2019

The Town Council
Held Open Days on:

  • Saturday 01 March 2014
  • Saturday 05 April 2014
  • Saturday 05 November 2016
  • Saturday 19 November 2016

Visitors were encouraged to leave their thoughts and comments. As a result of this, the town council made a submission on behalf of the town to EHDC. Individuals were also encouraged to make their own comments.   
The major outcome of this was that instead of having 500 houses planned for one site, the allocation was split into the three sites that are currently under consideration.
Officers and Members from the town council also had a meeting with EHDC on 25 August 2016 and were present and made submissions to the Planning Inspector on 08 November 2017.

Planning Applications
There are likely to be three major planning applications resulting from the adoption of the District Plan. The town council held extra planning meetings focused on each application. The town council will be paying particular attention to the infrastructure implications of any application.

SAWB2 Land north of West Road – by Taylor Wimpey.
3/18/1760/FUL
Extra planning meeting: 22 October 2018 @ 7.30pm
Town Council Response - 30 November 2018

Development Management Control Submissions

SAWB3 Land south of West Road – by BarrattDavidWilson.
Ref: 3/18/1523/FUL
Extra planning meeting: 08 October 2018 @ 7.30pm
Town Council Response 21 October 2018

SAWB4 Land north of Sawbridgeworth – by Countryside Properties
3/18/2735/FUL
Planning Meeting 25 February 2019 @ 8.30pm

Please click here to view our planning page

At the direction of the members of the Town Council, this letter has been sent to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 

Letter to Secretary of State - Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP