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General Information on Constraints to Development
Flood risk
This Council has commissioned WSP Consultants to produce a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the District. This will input into the land allocations policy in the Local Development Framework. The document is to be agreed with the Environment Agency. Further information on flooding is available on the Environment Agency website.
Contaminated Land
Insofar as it affects land use and development, the quality of land is a material planning consideration. Therefore, the potential for contamination from historic or current land uses to impact on proposed developments must be considered and appropriately addressed by developers. For this reason North Hertfordshire District Council's Environmental Protection Team is a statutory consultee of the Local Planning Authority.
North Hertfordshire District Council supports the Government objective of re-using brownfield sites and so the Environmental Protection Team has produced advice and guidance for developers on such sites and for developers of sites with an end use that is sensitive to contamination.
Tree Preservation Orders
There are many trees within the district which are of importance to the character and appearance of the area and are the subject of a Tree Preservation order. Guidance on how to apply for permission to undertake works to these trees is available. Should you wish to find out whether any tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or within a conservation area please contact the Technical Support Team in Planning Control & Conservation on 01462 474000 or email: planning.control@north-herts.gov.uk.
Conservation Areas
Conservation Areas are defined in The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as 'areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance'. Within North Hertfordshire there are some 40 Conservation Areas and the Council, in accordance with the legislation will only permit proposals which will maintain or enhance their character. Further information can be obtained from the Conservation Area section of this website.
Plans of specific areas are available for inspection at the Council offices.
Listed Buildings
There are over 2500 listed buildings within the District and it is the policy of the Council to only allow extensions, conversion or alterations which will preserve the character, historic fabric and setting of the buildings. Further information can be obtained from the Listed Buildings section of this website.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
This is an area which is of such outstanding natural beauty to be of national importance and in North Hertfordshire such an area is located to the west of the district. The landscape, designated in 1964, is between Hitchin, Lilley and Hexton and follows the escarpment of the Chiltern Hills. The Council seek to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Area. Further information can be obtained from www.chilternsaonb.org.
Article 4 direction
An Article 4 direction was confirmed in July 1998 in respect of part of the Hitchin Conservation and removes 'permitted development' rights in respect of extensions to properties in this area including porches and the erection of gates, walls and fences. This is to protect the character and appearance of the area. A copy of the direction together with the plan are available at these offices. Please contact Planning Reception at main Council offices on 01462 474000 or email: service@north-herts.gov.uk to arrange an inspection of the documents.
Area Of Special Control for Advertisements
In order to protect the visual amenity of the rural area of North Hertfordshire, this area has been deemed an area of special control within which the display of any advertisement is restricted. A copy of the associated plan and documentation is available at the Council Offices.
