15/10/2026
Could East Hertfordshire look different in the years ahead?
East Herts Council has announced a second “Call for Sites” as it prepares its new Local Plan, inviting landowners and developers to put forward land that could be considered for housing, employment or wildlife habitat.
The council says it needs to plan for around 1,237 new homes each year, making future development an important issue for communities around Stanstead Abbotts, Ware and Hertford.
Submitting a site does not guarantee planning permission or mean it will be approved for development. However, future decisions could influence local housing, infrastructure, transport links and green spaces.
At Hunters Stanstead Abbotts, we believe understanding local changes is an important part of making informed property decisions.
What matters most to you: more homes, better infrastructure or protecting green spaces?
East Herts Council is launching a second ‘Call for Sites’ as part of its work on a new Local Plan (sometimes referred to as the District Plan), providing an opportunity for landowners, developers, agents, and site promoters to submit sites that could have the potential for future development, or that could be used to create or improve habitats for wildlife.
Recent changes to the Government's National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) mean that additional sites may now be put forward for consideration. This second Call for Sites will help ensure the council has the most up-to-date picture of land that may be available across the district, while also providing an opportunity for those who did not participate in the 2024 Call for Sites to make submissions.
Government guidance identifies Calls for Sites as an important part of Local Plan preparation, helping councils identify potential development opportunities and ensuring all reasonable options can be considered.
Information gathered through this second Call for Sites will help inform preparation of the district's new Local Plan, which will guide how the council plans for homes, jobs, infrastructure and the environment. All sites submitted will be rigorously assessed for their suitability, and submitting a site does not
mean it will be allocated in the Local Plan or that it will be granted planning permission.
Sara Saunders, Director for Place and Deputy Chief Executive at East Herts Council, said,
“The new Local Plan will shape how East Herts develops in the years ahead, so we need a clear picture of the land that could be available across the district. Since our first Call for Sites in 2024, national planning policy has changed, and this gives people an opportunity to put forward sites that may not previously have been promoted for consideration.
“This is an early information-gathering exercise. We will assess every site put forward, but submitting a site does not mean it will be included in the Local Plan or receive planning permission. There will be opportunities for the public to have their say as the Local Plan develops, including on any sites proposed for allocation.”
The council has a legal duty to plan for the district’s housing needs, currently assessed at around 1,237 new homes a year. An up-to-date Local Plan helps guide development towards suitable locations and plan for the infrastructure and services needed to support it.
Sites can be submitted to East Herts Council’s ‘Call for Sites’ on the council’s website: https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/call-for-sites
