Regulation 19 Local Plan Representation - the last chance to have your say!
Dear Residents,
The Three Rivers' Local Plan Regulation 19 public consultation closes at 23:59 on 25th September 2026.
This is an important stage because it is the final opportunity to make formal representations on the proposed Local Plan before it is submitted for independent examination ('Regulation 20'). If you do not do so now, you may not be able to speak at the examination as it is at the discretion of the Inspector.
Sarratt Parish Council has commissioned a professional planning consultant to prepare a detailed Regulation 19 representation on our behalf. This will examine the Plan and its supporting evidence against the relative tests of soundness and identify any changes to the Plan considered necessary in relation to Sarratt.
There are no new sites in the Plan proposed for Sarratt village, although we face a number of speculative applications already in progress.
In terms of our wider parish, the planning appeal to build six hundred homes on Land North of Little Green Lane, which is in the Sarratt Parish boundary, was heard in early September. We should hear a decision on that site before the end of the year.
1. So why should you comment?
We support the plan overall and want it to be adopted as soon as possible, as it will help to protect from further speculative planning applications.
However, the threat to our village is already clear; there is a risk, although unlikely, of previously rejected sites being put forward again by the Government at Reg 20; and we will be impacted by the additional pressure on our roads, schools and other services by the new homes proposed across Three Rivers. This is why we are responding, within the limited remit that the Regulation 19 stage allows, to ensure the plan reinforces that Sarratt is an unsustainable development location.
2. Key issues for your comments
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Green Street at Chorleywood is of particular concern given its proximity to North Hill and in case you wish to comment on this site in particular. The site reference is H27.
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For Sarratt itself, we urge you to state in your comments that the Plan is sound overall, but set out some of the reasons why you feel Sarratt village is unsuitable for further development:
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The profound lack of sustainability of additional development in Sarratt, and our dependence upon private vehicles
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'Housing need': being met by the proposed allocation of Adams Nurseries plus other sites already permitted
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Poor highways and pedestrian accessibility
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Limited school capacity – if Green Street is permitted, it's unlikely Sarratt children will be able to get into St Clement Danes any longer; this would compound the issues caused by Little Green Lane (H33), which will mean that Croxley Danes and Rickmansworth School are likely to be full.
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Limited water, drainage, and other infrastructure
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Sarratt's heritage, landscape, and village character.
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The cumulative impact of existing permissions, live applications and proposed future development across Sarratt.
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3. The Consultation has four key questions:
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Do you consider that the Local Plan is legally compliant? Please answer yes. If the Examiner rejects it as not legally compliant, Sarratt is at an increased risk of further speculative applications.
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Do you consider the Local Plan is sound? Please answer yes, if you feel that overall, it is sound. If the Examiner rejects it as unsound, Sarratt is at much greater risk of speculative applications; but identify any concerns that you have with particular policies or sites. It is important that your answers reflect the key points you wish to make.
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If you have any specific evidence, please give details of why you consider the Local Plan is not legally compliant or is unsound. Be as precise and factual as possible. If you wish to support the legal compliance or soundness of the Local Plan, also use this box to set out your comments.
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Please set out the modification(s) you consider necessary to make the Local Plan legally compliant and sound, in respect of any legal compliance or soundness matters you have identified above. You will need to say why each modification will make the Local Plan legally compliant or sound. It will be helpful if you are able to put forward your suggested revised wording of any policy or text. Be as precise as possible.
4. Final guidance
If you do wish to raise any concerns, we would suggest you start your comments under question 10 with something like "Whilst I consider the overall plan to be legally compliant and sound, I do have concerns with the soundness of the following specific point ……….." and then detail your concerns. In question 11, you can then outline how the Plan should be changed.
This will give the Examiner an opportunity to accept the overall Plan, but to consider making changes to improve it. If you do have concerns about parts of the plan, these should be based on soundness only. The Consultation web page defines what is meant by "soundness".
Please visit Local Plan Regulation 19 Consultation | Have Your Say Three Rivers to make your voice heard.
Deadline is Friday 25th September 2026 at 23:59