HGB - Building a Connected Hertfordshire: The Partnerships and Projects Transforming Our County

Over the past year, we’ve laid strong foundations for a more connected Hertfordshire. By working closely together, we’ve made significant strides towards creating thriving communities, delivering the right homes in the right places, and building the infrastructure that underpins economic prosperity and wellbeing.

As we step into 2026, the opportunities of a new year are ahead of us. Collaboration will continue to be at the heart of everything we do. Together, we will shape a future that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient for Hertfordshire.

Mayor Peter Taylor
Chair of Hertfordshire Growth Board and Leader of Watford Borough Council

World Class Economy

Hertfordshire’s reputation as a world‑class economic centre has continued to grow. Throughout 2025, the county’s leaders have championed Hertfordshire on a national and global stage.

Back in November, at the inaugural UK Screen Investment Summit, industry leaders highlighted the need for deeper regional and cross‑sectoral partnerships to maximise the creative sector’s economic impact. This aligns with Hertfordshire’s ambition to strengthen its position at the heart of the UK’s screen and creative industries.

Another major milestone in 2025 was the development of Hertfordshire’s new Economic Strategy, which sets out a bold vision for the county to become the UK’s innovation heartland by 2035. Focused on productivity, sustainability and inclusion, the strategy brings together near‑term action with long‑term growth and will form the foundation of the forthcoming Local Growth Plan, set to launch in March 2026.

Digital Access for All

As part of our ongoing commitment to increase connectivity and ensure no place or person is left behind, a new Digital Strategy is being developed. This is structured around our core ambitions to improve broadband infrastructure, mobile coverage and digital inclusion.

Most recently, Digital Hertfordshire launched the Digital Help Finder, developed in partnership with Digital Essex. This new online tool supports individuals who need help getting online, strengthening digital inclusion across the region.

Transport for Hertfordshire

Driven by a shared mission to deliver a safe and integrated transport system which unlocks growth, work is now underway to develop a new statutory Local Transport Plan for Hertfordshire.

The plan sets out how the county’s transport infrastructure and services can support economic growth, the delivery of housing, reduce environmental harm and support better health. A wider range of organisations have been included in discussions to ensure that the disparate requirements can be incorporated into an effective plan to deliver safe, accessible and sustainable transport for all our communities.

Sustainable County

Spring 2025, we launched Hertfordshire’s first Local Retrofit Strategy to improve home energy efficiency, tackle fuel poverty, and support Net Zero. In December, Hertfordshire published the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), a landmark plan to restore and enhance nature across the county.

Developed by the Hertfordshire Nature Recovery Partnership, the strategy sets out a shared vision and priority areas for action, including protecting chalk streams and improving habitats for species such as swifts and water voles, restoring and enhancing nature at scale.

There are also webinars available aimed at Planners, Developers and Ecologists and Farmers, Land managers and Land owne rs.

Healthy & Safe Places for All

At the start of 2025, we set out a shared mission to create communities that have physical health, mental wellbeing, safety and social connectedness at the heart. We are delighted to announce the launch of the Healthy and Safe Places Framework – the first of its kind in the UK.

Shaun Andrews MRTPI, Director of UK Planning Strategy at Prior + Partners, provides expert insight into how this pioneering approach will support healthier communities for generations to come, read the op-ed here.

Right Homes, Right Places

In 2025, we made strong progress towards delivering the right homes – including increasing the provision of social, affordable, and specialist homes – in the right locations with the infrastructure needed to support Hertfordshire’s socio-economic prosperity.

The county built a gross total of 5,035 new homes in the period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025, of which 22% were affordable. This is the second highest rate that has been achieved in the last 25 years. There are also 39,100 homes with planning permission to be built over coming years.

We developed a pipeline of potential housing sites and a tool to engage Homes England on funding for social and affordable homes. There are about 400 sites on this list, capable of delivering around 97,000 homes over the coming years, which is the cumulative total of Local Plan allocations and other expected sites.

We have also contributed to the Healthy & Safe Places Framework, embedding health and wellbeing principles into future Local Plans, and supported districts in progressing Joint Strategic Plans to inform the Strategic Development Strategy. Looking ahead, we are refreshing the Infrastructure Prospectus to set out long-term infrastructure requirements and funding gaps, with publication expected in Spring 2026. District councils are also exploring AI planning tools to streamline validation processes, and the Quality Development Charter will align with the Future Homes Standard to ensure higher sustainability standards.

HIDB Member’s Digest

At December’s HIDB meeting, the full scale of Hertfordshire’s housing crisis was confronted. The message was clear: the need is urgent, and meeting it will require strong, coordinated action.

Yet the meeting also offered real optimism, spotlighting the talent, creativity and shared commitment across the county as partners work to unlock new homes and deliver better futures for residents.

Visit the HIDB website to view event photography, highlights video and meeting reflections.

Established in 2021, the HIDB brings together both the public and private sector from across Hertfordshire, giving over 80 members a seat at the table to understand and influence the future of the county.

To find out more about benefits and membership visit: www.hidb.co.uk/membership/

Future Events & Webinars