Home

Welcome to the website for the Hunsdon, Eastwick and Gilston Neighbourhood Plan Group (NPG). This group

  • Jointly represents Hunsdon and Eastwick & Gilston Parish Councils 
  • Is a voice for residents, holding developers accountable for promises to deliver a sustainable, high-quality development 
  • Aims to oversee and shape the Gilston Area development to ensure it aligns with community hopes, values and future needs 
  • Seeks to coordinate engagement between the developers and local authorities, especially East Herts Council 
  • Is involved in reviewing planning applications for the proposed villages 
  • Advocates for high standards in urban design, proper and timely infrastructure, environmental responsibility and community focused planning 
  • Continues to press for better interface with the existing communities, sustainable transport solutions, and “village master planning” principles 
  • Actively monitors the agreements related to infrastructure, affordable housing, and the long-term governance of community assets 

You can receive updates from the Group direct to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter below:

You can also Like our Facebook Page to get updates from us on your feed, and get in touch with us via our Contact page.

Contact Us

What is the Neighbourhood Plan Group?

The Hunsdon, Eastwick, and Gilston Neighbourhood Plan Group (HEGNPG) plays a crucial role in shaping and overseeing the Gilston Area development, to ensure it aligns with community values and sustainable development principles. After successfully completing the award winning Gilston Area Neighbourhood Plan (GANP), the HEGNPG continues to jointly represent the two directly affected Parish Councils of Hunsdon and Eastwick & Gilston. It seeks to coordinate engagement with developers, Places for People and Taylor Wimpey, and local authorities, especially East Herts Council. 

The HEGNPG is involved in reviewing planning applications and master plans for the proposed villages, ensuring they meet the expectations of Local Plan policy and the GANP. Our primary goals are to advocate for high standards in urban design, proper and timely infrastructure, environmental responsibility and community-focused planning. 

We believe we have influenced the quality of green space and community land, promoted biodiversity and landscape integration, and continue to press for better interface with the existing communities, sustainable transport solutions, and “village master planning” principles where each village within the development retains distinct features. Additionally, we will actively monitor the agreements related to infrastructure, affordable housing, and the long-term governance of community assets. 

In summary, the HEGNPG acts as a voice for residents, holding developers accountable to promises for the delivery of a sustainable, high-quality development that respects both local heritage and environmental goals. Through this active oversight, we aim to be the voice of the two directly affected Parish Councils and so keep the development aligned with the community’s hopes and aspirations and ensure it remains adaptable to future needs.

The East Herts District Plan provides for 10,000 homes to be built in the Gilston Area. In exchange for the release of our Green Belt land, we were promised development of exceptional quality and 1,000 acres of community owned open space.

Through the Eastwick & Gilston and Hunsdon Parish Councils, the residents of Hunsdon, Eastwick and Gilston joined forces and formed a Neighbourhood Plan Group to engage with the developers and authorities to represent the local communities and safeguard your interests.

The Gilston Area Neighbourhood Plan

After much consultation with residents, developers, other stakeholders and experts, we drafted a comprehensive Neighbourhood Plan – later passed at referendum and formally adopted – which you can download and read in full.

Our Gilston Area Neighbourhood Plan aims to ensure – through the formal planning process – that the Gilston Area development fulfils the promises the developers have made about creating homes of exceptional quality in sustainable communities.

The plan built on the previous Concept Development Framework, which outlined principles that should underpin the redevelopment of the Gilston Area.

The Plan underwent and passed independent examination by Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC between October 2020 and February 2021.

It was accepted by East Herts Council soon after and was endorsed by the public with a 98% win at a public vote on Thursday, May 27, 2021.

It received a massive endorsement from local residents on with a powerful 98% of the vote, in a very high turnout at the referendum on it.

It also won the awards for Plan-Making and cross-category Editor’s prize at the Planning Awards 2021 and the Excellence in Landscape Planning and Assessment Award at the Landscape Institute Awards 2021.

We would like to thank you all for your incredible support over these last few years, and for coming out to vote for the policies in the Plan.

This overwhelming vote gives you a voice to  shape and influence the development of the Garden Villages, which we know are destined for this area and imposed by others  against the will of the majority of the people who live here.

Following the adoption of the plan, we are continuing to work hard on behalf of the community we represent. Find out more about our ongoing work at both our What the NPG does page and by keeping up with our latest news.

You can download and read the full Neighbourhood Plan here:

Download

You can also read the Policies here and a one-page Policies Summary here.

Paper copies of the plan are available to borrow on request.

Latest News