Latest news regarding the Baldock, Bygrave & Clothall Neighbourhood Plan
* November 2023 – HCC / U&C presentation of revised plans for the Baldock area
– In November 2023, Herts County Council and Urban&Civic presented their revised plans for developments in the Baldock area. There were three meetings, for public review and comments, held at the following venues –
1. St Mary’s Church Hall, Baldock – on Friday 24th Nov, 1 – 6pm
2. St Mary’s Church Hall, Baldock – on Saturday 25th Nov, 12 – 4pm
3. Baldock Arts & Heritage centre (town hall) – on Wednesday 29th Nov, 4 – 8pm
There are more Baldock details on the U&C website – growingbaldock.co.uk
U&C main website is – urbanandcivic.com
re Baldock – urbanandcivic.com/portfolio/strategic-sites/baldock
July ’23 – Additional Consultations on Masterplan for Baldock
A further round of consultations on the Masterplan for Baldock were run by Urban and Civic (U&C) at the Orange Tree pub, on Mon 10th July. There were three sessions (4.15 to 5.15pm, 5.30-6.30pm, 6.45-7.45) which included a short presentation. To book a session, send an email to baldock@urbanandcivic.com
There are more Baldock details on the U&C website – growingbaldock.co.uk
U&C main website is – urbanandcivic.com
re Baldock – urbanandcivic.com/portfolio/strategic-sites/baldock
March ’23 – First formal round of Consultations on Masterplan for Baldock
The first formal round of consultations on the Masterplan for Baldock was run by Urban and Civic (U&C) at the end of March ’23 in Baldock TownHall, and was advertised widely in the local area. U&C have been appointed by HCC (Herts County Council) to be the principle developers for the whole of the Baldock and Bygrave development area. They have an agreement to work with both HCC and North Hertfordshire Council to create a Strategic Masterplan for the area. (for more details see BBPlan Newsletter 2nd Mar ’23 (pdf) )
NHDC Council voted to adopt the revised Local Plan on 8th Nov 2022
On Tues 8th Nov 2022, the NHDC Council Voted to adopt the revised local Plan. 30 members vote for the plan, 8 voted against, and 2 abstained. It was a long meeting finishing at 11pm. The voting results appeared briefly on the big screens – see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3oS785lGQA at 3hrs, 24min, 15 sec.
NHDC Local Plan – Inspectors final report – 8th Sept 2022
The Local Plan Inspector issued his final report on the examination of the NHDC Local Plan 2011- 2031, on 8th Sept 2022. See notification email – Receipt of the Inspector’s Report
The North Herts Inspectors Report and the Schedule of Main Modifications Appendix are available on the NHDC website. They are also available to view at the Council Offices, and in the following local libraries – Baldock, Hitchin, Knebworth, Letchworth and Royston.
In the Report Baldock is mentioned on pages 65 to 71.
In the Appendix sites BA2 to BA10 are mentioned on pages 84 to 87. Details of all BA sites can be seen in the Maps page.
At the end of the Appendix, there is a map of all NHDC areas affected – on page 127.
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It is understood that once accepted by the Council, there will be a presentation by HCC of a revised plan for Baldock, Bygrave & Clothall in the Baldock Community Centre.
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Neighbourhood Plan ‘Made’ by NHDC Cabinet on Tues 29th June 2021
During the NHDC (North Herts District Council) Cabinet meeting on Tues 29th June, the Neighbourhood plan was formally adopted (Made) and will now come into force. It should be considered during future Planning activities in the area.
Neighbourhood Plan approved by a referendum vote on Thur 6th May 2021
6th May 2021 – 88% (3101 votes) of Referendum respondents voted in favour of NHDC adopting the Plan. It will come into force as soon as the NHDC Cabinet formally adopt (Make) the Plan.
The Jan 2021 version of the Neighbourhood Plan was approved by NHDC as ready for a referendum vote in Jan 2021. The referendum vote took place on Thurs 6 May 2021, when 88% (3101) residents voted in favour of NHDC adopting the Plan.
Further details of the Referendum vote and associated documents may be found on the History page.
Land East of Rhee Spring development (BA4)
We now have our first example of how the Neighbourhood Plan can help shape future development in the area. A proposal by Chalkdene Developments LLP for the development of 42 dwellings on the Land East of Rhee Spring (BA4) has been made public (see their Consultation website). As the Neighbourhood Plan has now been approved by NHDC, it has to be considered during the planning process.
More details of the BA4 development are available on the Planning page
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We have got to this stage following an enormous amount of work by many people in the local community, and most recently following a vote by NHDC’s Cabinet to ‘make’ the Neighbourhood Plan.
A very small number of changes were made to the Jan 2021 version of the Neighbourhood Plan following the Examiner’s report, but he endorsed the vast majority of the plan, including the importance of keeping a gap between Baldock and Bygrave, requirements for improved facilities and for well designed and sustainable development.
Baldock’s Urban Extension Programme
The local paper, the Comet reported on 24th June 2021 that Herts County Council (HCC) have appointed Urban&Civic as the master developer for the Baldock area. This is to progress HCC’s plans for the new developments around Baldock, once the revised version of the NHDC Local Plan is made available by the Inspector (in 2022).
HCC expect to submit a new planning application, for the whole of Baldock, after the Local Plan hearings conclude. In the meantime, focus will be on the land marked as B4 in the Local Plan. As this land is not part of the Green Belt it is not subject to Local Plan approval and timetable.
The article in the Comet reports that the changes suggested by the Inspector, Simon Berkeley, would see Baldock’s Local Plan housing contribution reduce from 3,386 to 2198 (within the Plan period to 2031). These changes were proposed as part of a HCC / NHDC consultation, which ended on June 24th 2021.
In the consultation document, the proposed modifications for Baldock are given in MM205, MM207 (BA3) & MM210 (which proposes BA1 houses reduced from 2800 to 2500, with 1400 completed within the Plan period to 2031). FM117 gives the details for Bygrave.