Green and Independent councillors have voted against the draft Local Plan at a meeting of St Albans Council. The overall result of the vote was that it was passed, due to the large majority of Lib Dem councillors.
St Albans urgently needs a local plan. A robust and bold one that secures sustainable, well-built housing for future generations and those waiting on housing lists.
Does the current plan deliver that? There’s plenty of talk about sustainability and biodiversity, but will it stand up to the changes from climate change? If we must build on greenbelt land, we have to get it right. Greenbelt land provides carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, wildlife habitats, and food crops.
We need to build fully sustainable, gas-free homes to protect people from energy price spikes. Let’s give people homes of the future – warm, cheap to run, powered by renewable technologies – that won’t need retrofitting later because we didn’t commit to the best we can build.
We also need better commitment and service from public transport companies. Car usage here is higher than average, and the local plan does little to address it. Walking and cycling are promoted, but we need reliable, frequent buses to get around. Redbourn has no rail access, poor bus service, and yet is earmarked for major development. Air quality is already an issue, with rising asthma rates, especially in children.
The Environment Agency’s report on the plan raises concerns about our water quality and efficiency – we use more water per capita than the national average. The sewage plant that serves St Albans is at capacity and regularly discharges into the River Ver – a river we’re trying to revitalise. Thames Water has had little input, and the plan leaves it to developers to liaise with them. How will the sewage plant cope with all the sites listed in the plan?
The plan includes flood-risk sites and says the risk will be mitigated. Given our current rainfall levels, careful planning is essential. It also includes a meadow with rare, protected species and an ancient monument. The number of houses on this site has already been reduced because it’s so restrictive, and the Greenbelt Review suggests there are too many complications to include it. How can houses be built here when we can’t plant trees in Verulamium Park because of ancient monuments?
The local plan should commit to a sustainable future for St Albans.