Government rule changes have made it harder for the Council to refuse planning applications in Broxbourne. Residents can find out more and put their questions to Councillors at two live Q&As.
A series of Government changes to the planning system has limited the Council’s ability to refuse applications and changed who makes planning decisions across the Borough.
In December 2024, the Government raised Broxbourne’s housing target from 454 homes a year to 770. Because the Borough cannot show enough suitable sites to meet this target over the next five years, Government rules say planning permission should be granted in most cases.
The Government has also created “grey belt”, making some Green Belt land easier to build on, and can take decisions on large developments away from councils if too many of their refusals are overturned on appeal.
Since 31 October, the Government’s National Scheme of Delegation has also replaced Broxbourne’s own rules on who decides planning applications. Council Officers now decide all minor applications and major schemes only go to the Planning and Regulatory Committee if the Committee Chair and the Council’s most senior Planning Officer agree that they raise a significant planning, economic, social or environmental issue. This is known as the ‘Gateway Test’.
The impact is already being felt locally. The Planning and Regulatory Committee refused major applications at Laurel Park and Goffs Lane, but both were overturned on appeal by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate this year. Five more major schemes, covering more than 450 homes, are awaiting a decision in Goffs Oak.
To help residents understand what the changes mean for them, the Council has published a new page on its website explaining the changes and answering common questions, which can be found here.
Councillor Corina Gander, Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, and Councillor Paul Mason, Cabinet Member for Planning, will also answer residents’ questions during the Planning Unpacked livestream Q&As on You Tube, Facebook and Instagram at 1pm on Tuesday 17 November and Tuesday 1 December. Questions can be submitted in advance through the Council’s survey.
Councillor Corina Gander said:
Local people should decide what happens in their community, and the Councillors they elect should be able to stand up for them. The Government has taken that away. Its higher housing targets, grey belt policy and new national rules on how applications are decided mean that the chances of development being approved are far greater. Broxbourne Council did not ask for any of this and it is wrong that these rules have been imposed.
I will keep standing up for residents and pressing the Government to listen to the people of Broxbourne about developments on their doorstep.
Residents can find out more on the new FAQ page here and can submit their questions through the survey here.