HGC Supplementary Planning Document Consultations
Hemel Garden Communities (HGC), St Albans City & District and Dacorum Borough Council are inviting local residents, businesses, and developers to have their say on two new Draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) that will help shape the future housing, neighbourhoods and development within the Hemel Garden Communities Programme Area. The documents provide a joint approach for all development planned in and around Hemel Hempstead in Dacorum and St Albans districts.
The consultations ARE NOT about the principle of allocating sites or any other current planning applications; these are being dealt with separately through the Local Plan process and /or planning application consultations.
The consultations begins at 12pm on Friday 6th February 2026 and closes at midnight on Thursday 19th March 2026.
Supplementary Planning Documents are technical documents which help to clarify, illustrate or provide detail on how Local Plan policies should be applied in practice and they will help to inform future development across the town.
The Draft HGC Framework and Transformation SPD will ensure sites are developed in a joined-up way to achieve good quality housing, green spaces and features that reduce flood risk and respond to climate change, improve active travel, and provide new jobs. This SPD will also offer strategic design code guidance for developers who will create the new homes and neighbourhoods within the programme area.
The Draft HGC Stewardship and Placemaking SPD covers the approach on stewardship (how outdoor spaces and community infrastructure is managed and maintained), within the HGC Programme Area. The Draft HGC Stewardship and Placemaking SPD sets out how a fair approach will be introduced, so future development sites are consistent in their approach to stewardship and placemaking, with the aim of creating a strong sense of community and delivering transformation supported by sustainable investment, into the future.
Watch our video, featuring local community experts - What is good Stewardship?
How do I have my say?
We would request you submit your comments online by using the Council’s online consultation portals.
If you live or work in the Dacorum Borough Council district, please visit:
letstalk.dacorum.gov.uk/hub-page/planning
If you live or work in St Albans City & District, please visit:
Hemel Garden Communities Supplementary Planning Documents Consultations | St Albans City and District CouncilIf this is not possible, you can download the comments forms and return them by emailing them or posting them to:
- By post addressed to: Hemel Garden Communities, Dacorum Borough Council, The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN.
- Draft HGC SPD Comments Form Framework & Transformation (DBC)
- Draft HGCSPD Comments Form Stewardship & Placemaking (DBC)
- Draft HGC SPD Comment Form Framework & Transformation (SADC)
- Draft HGC SPD Comments Form Stewardship & Placemaking (SADC)
Where can I find more information?
Hard copies of the documents are available to view:
- at Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead, Leverstock Green, Redbourn Community and St Allbans libraries (during normal opening hours),
- at the Council's main offices Dacorum Borough Council, The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1DN or St Albans City & District Council, Civic Centre, St Peter's Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE.
HGC SPD Consultations Online event
Two in person events scheduled for 24 February 2026 at Leverstock Green Village Hall and 26 February 2026 at Redbourn Parish Centre, planned as part of the Hemel Garden Communities (HGC) Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) consultations, will now take place online in March. The change has been made in light of higher than predicted attendance numbers and the capped capacity of the venues.
The joint online event will be held on Monday 2 March 2026 from 7pm to 8pm. Moving the arrangements online will allow more people to attend.
How do I join the Hemel Garden Communities Supplementary Planning Document Consultations Online Event?
Anyone wishing to join this event, will need to register before the event, using the link below:
Date: Monday 2 March 2026, 7pm to 8pm
Where: Online, Teams Webinar
Registration closes Monday 2 March at midday.