Hearing sessions
The hearing sessions will take place in two stages. Stage 1 will cover strategic issues relating to Legal Compliance, Housing Needs, the Spatial Strategy and Green Belt release. Stage 2 will cover the Council’s suggested changes to the Plan and the evidence published for consultation between 4 July and 22 August 2025. It will also cover, Type & Mix of Housing, Economy and Employment, Residential Site Allocations, Community Infrastructure, Hemel Garden Communities, Housing Land Supply, Transport, The Natural Environment, Design Standards and the Historic Environment.
Stage 2 Hearing Sessions
The Stage 2 hearing sessions will be held at the Council Offices, Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, AL1 3JE and will take place as follows:
• Tuesday 14 October – Friday 17 October 2025
• Tuesday 21 October – Friday 24 October 2025
• Tuesday 4 November – Friday 7 November 2025
• Tuesday 11 November – Friday 14 November 2025 (online)
An additional hearing session will be held in the Council Chamber, St Albans City & District Offices, St Peter’s Street, AL1 3JE on Thursday 11 December starting at 10.00 am.
This session will be to discuss the Gypsy & Traveller Topic paper (SADC/ED88) and the responses to the consultation on this paper. Please see the Consultation on the Gypsy & Traveller Topic Paper SADC/ED88 page for further information.
Stage 2 Hearing Sessions Documents
Programme & Participants (V8) 26.10.25.pdf
Daily Participants List Week 3-20.10.25
SADC/ED82 Inspectors' Draft Hearings Programme stage 2
SADC/ED83 Inspectors’ Guidance Notes for Stage 2 of the Examination
SADC/ED84A Addendum to Inspectors’ Matters, Issue and Questions (SADC/ED84) (The addendum relates to the proposed allocation M20 Luton Road, Harpenden. No other amendments have been made to the original version of the document SADC/ED84)
SADC/ED84 Inspectors’ Matters, Issues and Questions - Stage 2 Hearings
The Inspectors’ Guidance Note on the examination explains the process of the Examination, and provides information on how Regulation 19 Representors can send in hearing statements in response to the Inspectors’ Matters, Issues and Questions and register to take part in the hearing sessions.
Hearing Statements
Please click HERE for the Hearing statements for the Stage 1 and 2 Hearing Sessions.
Stage 1 Hearing Sessions
The Stage 1 hearings will take place at the Council Offices, Civic Centre, St. Peter’s Street, St Albans AL1 3JE. These will run between Tuesday 29 April and Friday 2 May 2025 opening at 10.00 am on Tuesday 29 April 2025.
Stage 1 Hearing Sessions Documents:
- Draft Programme & Participants(V3).28.4.25.pdf
- ED68 Inspectors’ Examination Guidance Note
- ED69 Inspectors' Matters, Issues and Questions
- ED70 Draft Programme Stage 1 Hearings V.1
Hearing Statements
Please click HERE for the Hearing statements for the Stage 1 and 2 Hearing Sessions.
Live Stream and Webcast
All the hearings will be live streamed. When the hearings are taking place anyone wishing to listen to the discussion will be able to access the live stream via the links below. It will not be necessary to log-in as the link will take you straight to the hearing session.
Recordings of the hearings sessions will also be available for at least one year from this page.
When the morning's hearing session has concluded, you will need to manually click onto the afternoon's hearing session.