Council loses planning powers – where does that leave the Hub?
- Dacorum Council has lost the power to make major planning decisions
- The Government decision could make it harder for the Council and NHS to push forward with the Market Square ‘neighbourhood health centre’ Hub
- Minister Matthew Pennycook accused the Council of ‘not adequately performing their function of determining applications for planning permission for major development’
- The Council and West Herts NHS Trust wish to close Hemel Hempstead Hospital and use the whole site for housing and a primary school
- Whatever was left of the Hospital’s services would be accommodated on two floors of the health centre Hub on the Market Square
- There will also be questions over the activity of Dacorum Investment Partnership, which sees housebuilders Hill Group sharing decision-making with Dacorum Council on future housing site allocations