The decade-long saga of Welwyn Hatfield's Local Plan is finally at an end, after the council voted to adopt the latest plan.

Councillors considered the final report of the Planning Inspector, which concluded the plan was sound and legally compliant, with the vote taken at a full meeting of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council yesterday (October 12).

"The Local Plan sets out how the borough will be developed between now and 2036 and we are pleased that a decision has been reached," said Councillor Jane Quinton, executive member for planning and regeneration.

"The pursuit of a sound local plan has been long and challenging, and we would like to thank everyone who has participated.

"We now look forward to working on the plan review and introducing further planning policy improvements."

The Local Plan saga has rumbled on for more than a decade, with talks originally taking place back in 2012, before a plan was submitted in 2017.

Issues around housing targets and building on land around Brookmans Park and Cuffley have seen the plan pushed back and back.

The problems went as far a national government, with letters written by the council being sent to former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, as well as levelling up, housing and communities secretary Michael Gove, to clarify concerns the council was having.

In January, Welwyn West's Conservative councillor Sunny Thusu claimed the Local Plan had been "hamstrung by the inflexibility of the inspector", but just days later, a plan was finally agreed at a full council meeting.

The Plannng Inspector’s full report can be viewed www.welhat.gov.uk/local-plan.