North Hertfordshire is characterised by a number of small- to medium-sized towns and by villages and hamlets located within open countryside. The main settlements of Hitchin, Baldock and Royston are all historic market towns, each with their own distinctive character. Letchworth Garden City is based on Ebenezer Howard’s original concept of a self-contained settlement combining the best of both town and country living.
High quality design is strongly encouraged in North Hertfordshire to protect and enhance the district’s townscape, landscape, environmental and heritage value and to create sustainable places that provide an enhanced variety of new housing, employment opportunities and essential infrastructure.
The NHDC Design Review Panel is providing the appropriate range of design, planning and placemaking skills to support the integrated masterplanning of a number of large strategic sites, ensuring that development is properly integrated into the surrounding area, is sensitive to and mitigates its impact on the local area and context, and protects and enhances ecology and biodiversity.