Planning Authorities
Hertfordshire has a two-tier system: the county council plus 10 district and borough LPAs
Hertfordshire County Council
County Council - Minerals, Waste & Strategic Planning
County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8DE
Tel: 0300 123 4047
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/planning
The county council is the minerals and waste planning authority and handles county-matter applications (schools, highways, major infrastructure). For all residential, commercial and general development, contact the relevant district below.
Broxbourne Borough Council
District LPA
Bishops' College, Churchgate, Cheshunt EN8 9XQ
Tel: 01992 785555
www.broxbourne.gov.uk/planning
Broxbourne borders London to the south and includes the Lee Valley Regional Park along its western edge. The River Lee and Stort flood corridors run through the borough. Lee Valley White Water Centre (Olympic legacy) is in the borough.
Dacorum Borough Council
District LPA
The Forum, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead HP1 1DN
Tel: 01442 228000
Dacorum includes Hemel Hempstead (one of the post-war New Towns, with the Marlowes town centre and Magic Roundabout roundabout of heritage planning interest) and the Chilterns National Landscape in the north-west of the borough. Conservation area designations apply in Berkhamsted and Tring.
East Hertfordshire District Council
District LPA
Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford SG13 8EQ
Tel: 01279 655261
East Hertfordshire includes Bishop's Stortford (adjacent to Stansted Airport - safeguarding zones are a significant constraint), Hertford, Ware and Sawbridgeworth. The River Lea and Stort Valley runs through the district with associated flood risk. The district is largely within the Metropolitan Green Belt.
Hertsmere Borough Council
District LPA
Civic Offices, Elstree Way, Borehamwood WD6 1WA
Tel: 020 8207 2277
Hertsmere is London's nearest district in Hertfordshire. It includes Elstree and Borehamwood (home to longstanding film and television studios, including BBC Elstree) and is almost entirely within the Metropolitan Green Belt. The Colne Valley and its watercourses run through the western part of the borough.
North Hertfordshire District Council
District LPA
Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 3JF
Tel: 01462 474000
www.north-herts.gov.uk/planning
North Hertfordshire includes Letchworth Garden City (the world's first garden city, 1903, with an extensive conservation area and local list of heritage assets) and Hitchin, Baldock and Royston. The chalk landscape of the Chilterns extends into the district.
St Albans City and District Council
District LPA
St Peter's Street, St Albans AL1 3JE
Tel: 01727 866100
St Albans is one of England's oldest cities, built on the Roman town of Verulamium. St Albans Cathedral is Grade I listed; the Roman amphitheatre and Verulamium Park are Scheduled Monuments. The district is almost entirely Green Belt. Pre-application advice is strongly recommended for any works near the cathedral or Verulamium.
Stevenage Borough Council
District LPA
Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage SG1 1HN
Tel: 01438 242242
Stevenage was the UK's first post-war New Town (designated 1946), designed by Clarence Stein. The town centre - including the first pedestrianised town centre in the UK (1959) - and Howard Park are of architectural significance. The council holds a local list of New Town heritage assets.
Three Rivers District Council
District LPA
Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth WD3 1RL
Tel: 01923 776611
www.threerivers.gov.uk/planning
Three Rivers borders London to the south and includes Rickmansworth, Chorleywood, Croxley Green and Abbots Langley. The Colne Valley Regional Park and Chilterns National Landscape extend into the district. The Chess, Gade and Colne chalk streams run through the area.
Watford Borough Council
District LPA
Town Hall, Watford WD17 3EX
Tel: 01923 226400
Watford is the county's principal town and a major retail and commercial centre. The borough is entirely urban with no Green Belt land. Development near the River Colne corridor and Watford Junction strategic transport interchange requires careful transport assessment.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
District LPA
Council Offices, The Campus, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6AE
Tel: 01707 357000
Welwyn Hatfield includes both Welwyn Garden City (the second garden city, 1920, by Ebenezer Howard and Louis de Soissons, with a comprehensive conservation area) and Hatfield (a post-war New Town). The Hatfield Aerodrome site is one of the county's major brownfield regeneration opportunities. British Aerospace/BAE heritage buildings on the aerodrome are listed.
Building Control
Building regulations and structural compliance across Hertfordshire
District Council Building Control Services
Local Building Control Authorities
Each district and borough council operates its own building control service. Contact the relevant planning authority (above) using the same phone numbers. Several Hertfordshire councils operate shared building control arrangements - confirm current service delivery with your council.
LABC (Local Authority Building Control)
Approved inspector network
You may alternatively use a Registered Building Control Approver (private sector). LABC's site allows you to find your local authority service or compare private approved inspectors operating across Hertfordshire.
Heritage & Conservation
Historic England, St Albans Roman heritage and Hertfordshire's garden city legacy
Historic England - East of England
National Heritage Advisor
Brooklands, 24 Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge CB2 8BU
Tel: 01223 582700
Hertfordshire has a remarkable range of heritage assets including the Roman city of Verulamium (St Albans), medieval abbey remains, the world's first garden city (Letchworth) and early twentieth-century planned communities. The Hertfordshire Historic Environment Record is held by the county council.
Hertfordshire County Council - Historic Environment
Historic Environment Record (HER) Holder
Tel: 0300 123 4047
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk - Heritage
The county council holds the HER and provides archaeological advice. Roman roads and settlement are widespread across the county - pre-application HER searches are recommended for sites in areas of known archaeological sensitivity, particularly around St Albans, Ware and Baldock.
Chilterns Conservation Board
Chilterns National Landscape Management Body
The Lodge, Station Road, Chinnor OX39 4HA
Tel: 01844 355500
The Chilterns National Landscape covers the north-west corner of Hertfordshire, primarily in Dacorum and Three Rivers districts. While planning applications are determined by the district council, the Conservation Board is a statutory consultee for development within or affecting the setting of the National Landscape.
Environment & Flood Risk
Environment Agency, chalk streams and River Lee and Colne flood corridors
Environment Agency - Thames Region
Flood Risk and Environmental Regulator
Tel: 0370 850 6506 (general enquiries)
Flood line: 0345 988 1188
The Rivers Lee/Lea, Colne, Gade, Ver and Stort all rise in Hertfordshire and are significant flood corridors. The chalk streams of Hertfordshire - including the Ver, Mimram, Beane and Chess - are among the rarest habitats in the world and are designated SSSIs. Development near these rivers requires EA pre-application consultation and sensitive drainage design.
Hertfordshire County Council - Flood Risk Management
Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA)
Tel: 0300 123 4047
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/flooding
As LLFA, the county council manages ordinary watercourses and surface water drainage across all ten districts. Surface water drainage for major developments requires LLFA approval. The chalk geology means groundwater flooding can affect low-lying areas during wet winters.
Affinity Water
Water Supply and Chalk Stream Stewardship
Tel: 0345 200 9951
Affinity Water abstracts from chalk aquifers that feed Hertfordshire's famous chalk streams. They are a significant stakeholder in chalk stream restoration, and new development with high water demand may require pre-application discussions regarding abstraction and supply. The chalk aquifer is the primary water source for central Hertfordshire.
Infrastructure & Utilities
Water, electricity, gas and strategic roads serving Hertfordshire
Affinity Water
Water Supply
Tel: 0345 200 9951
Affinity Water is the primary water supplier for most of Hertfordshire. Contact for new water connections, infrastructure charges and development capacity enquiries.
Thames Water
Sewerage and Wastewater
Tel: 0800 316 9901
Thames Water handles sewerage and wastewater treatment across most of Hertfordshire. Contact for sewer connection applications, infrastructure charges and development capacity checks. Anglian Water serves some parts of the north and east of the county - check your specific address.
UK Power Networks (UKPN)
Electricity Distribution Network Operator
Tel: 0800 316 3105
UKPN operates the electricity distribution network across Hertfordshire. Contact for new connections, capacity assessments and high-voltage infrastructure queries.
Cadent Gas
Gas Distribution Network Operator
Tel: 0800 038 1386
Cadent Gas manages the gas distribution network across Hertfordshire. Contact for new connections, mains diversions and infrastructure queries.
National Highways
Strategic Road Network
Tel: 0300 123 5000
National Highways manages the M1 (running north through the county via Hemel Hempstead and St Albans), M25 (southern boundary), A1(M) (east side, Hatfield-Stevenage-Welwyn) and the A10 (Hertford-Ware corridor). Development with access or traffic impact on these routes requires Transport Assessment and National Highways pre-application consultation.
Trade Bodies & Professional Contacts
Industry organisations relevant to Hertfordshire construction and development
Other Relevant Bodies
Airport safeguarding, Lee Valley Regional Park and Green Belt context
London Stansted Airport Safeguarding
Airport Safeguarding Authority
Stansted Airport, Stansted CM24 1QW
Tel: 0844 499 0303
Stansted's safeguarding zones extend significantly into eastern Hertfordshire, particularly East Hertfordshire District and Bishop's Stortford. Tall structures, cranes, wind turbines, solar farms (glint and glare) and wind turbines within the consultation zone require pre-application assessment with the airport safeguarding team.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Regional Park Authority
Myddelton House, Bulls Cross, Enfield EN2 9HG
Tel: 01992 702200
The Lee Valley Regional Park runs along the eastern boundary of Hertfordshire through Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire districts. The Park Authority is a statutory consultee for development within or adjacent to the park boundary. The River Lea and its flood plain, gravel pits and nature reserves form a significant green corridor.
Colne Valley Regional Park
Regional Park
The Colne Valley Regional Park covers the western boundary of Hertfordshire (Three Rivers and Hertsmere districts) and includes gravel pits, chalk streams, woodland and farmland. The park is a material consideration in planning decisions for adjacent sites.
Homes England - East
National Housing Delivery Agency
Tel: 0300 1234 500
Homes England is active in Hertfordshire through major strategic housing sites, including the Hatfield Aerodrome redevelopment and various urban extensions to New Towns. Contact for land availability, strategic site funding and affordable housing programmes.