Residents in Welwyn Parish are being reminded to register to vote ahead of a neighbourhood plan referendum taking place on 7 May 2026. The vote, which will be held alongside the full Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council elections, asks the public if the council should use the new neighbourhood plan for Welwyn to help decide local planning applications.
The proposed plan covers the period from 2025 to 2036 and includes the areas of Welwyn, Mardley Heath, Oaklands, and Digswell. It was developed by Welwyn Parish Council and was approved to go to a public vote by the borough council on 24 February 2026, following an independent examination by David Kaiserman.
To participate in the referendum, eligible voters must ensure their registration is received by the local authority no later than midnight on Monday 20 April 2026. Residents who require a voter identification document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate, must submit their applications to the electoral registration officer by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026. These applications should be sent to Room F6 at The Campus in Welwyn Garden City.
This upcoming referendum marks the second time a neighbourhood plan has been put to a vote in the area. A previous plan for Northaw and Cuffley was adopted in May 2023 after receiving strong community support, with 1,248 votes in favour and 267 against. If adopted, the Welwyn Neighbourhood Development Plan will form a formal part of the local planning process.
Residents with questions regarding the registration process or voter ID requirements can contact the Electoral Services Team at 01707 357300 or via email at [email protected].
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
