Planning Your Future

The planning system helps ensure that development takes place in a way that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. It also has a role to play in helping to cut carbon emissions, protect the natural environment and deliver energy security.

Central Government oversees these plan-making and decision-taking functions and produces national planning policy guidance that set out the Government's requirements for the planning system. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out a presumption in favour of sustainable development and includes guidance on planning for sustainable transport, protecting green belt, meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change, conserving and enhancing the natural environment and facilitating the sustainable use of materials.

Local planning authorities prepare development plans which set the broad framework for managing development in their area. They are also responsible for assessing most applications for planning permission.

New optional technical standards for housing include Water Efficiency Standards which introduces an optional requirement of 110 litres/person/day when required by planning permission and a water efficiency calculation methodology for new dwellings approved by the Secretary of State. 

The Planning Portal is an online planning and building regulations resource for England and Wales. 

Whilst Local Development Frameworks are comprehensive documents,  Hertfordshire local Councils would like to encourage every developer, builder and member of the public to go a step further.

The Building Futures Sustainable Design Toolkit  is a design guide prepared by the eleven Hertfordshire authorities. The Guide proposes solutions that are practical and deliverable. It also provides a broad range of case studies ranging from homeowners building extensions, to major regeneration projects and strategic housing developments.

The site now offers Retrofit Resource as a short 'how to' guide for homeowners and tenants, two longer manuals which provide detailed guidance, and a new online databaseof companies who can help you undertake your retrofit.

The guides take you through the 12 steps to a successful retofit, from identfying financial and environmental savings to choosing the right retrofit solutions for you and your property. As well as tips that save money but cost nothing, the guides also shows you how you can make use of green technologies and make your home more resilient to a changing climate.