It’s been just over six-months since Hertfordshire Growth Board launched its vision for growth in Hertfordshire supported by six missions. Three of the missions are being delivered by established partnerships, for example, Hertfordshire Futures is overseeing the World Class Economy Mission, while the remainder required the establishment of new Steering groups.
Key highlights for each mission
World Class Economy (overseen by Hertfordshire Futures):
- The Launch of Invest Herts Prospectus and Portal (Hertfordshire’s Inward Investment digital platform) and promotional event held at UKREiiF 2024 to promote development and investment opportunities within Hertfordshire.
- Consultation and engagement have commenced on new Economic Strategy for Hertfordshire.
- £3.5 million investment has been secured for training provision for skills bootcamps in key sectors such as Film & TV and Green skills.
Digital Access for All (overseen by the Towards Digital Growth Programme Advisory Board)
- Three contracts have been awarded which will result in approx. 13,000 Hertfordshire premises having high speed connections. Delivery of these connections will commence in 2025
- The first school in Hertfordshire has been connected to ultrafast broadband as part of the DfE gigabit programme. By December 2025 a further 29 schools will have these connections.
Sustainable County (overseen by Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership)
- Hertfordshire has successfully applied for and been selected as a Pilot Area for the Local Area Retrofit Accelerator, securing £50,000-worth of consultancy support to deliver a Retrofit Strategy for Hertfordshire by January 2025.
- All local authorities have now completed a Climate Change Risk Assessment. These will help develop the Strategic Action Plan for Adaption for Hertfordshire.
- Engagement on the developing Hertfordshire Local Nature Recovery Plan has begun: See here for more information
Transport for Hertfordshire (overseen by a newly established Transport for Hertfordshire Steering Group)
- Hertfordshire Place and Movement Planning Design Guide was adopted by HCC’s Cabinet to provide a guide for all road construction within Hertfordshire with a focus on sustainable forms of transport.
- Governance arrangements for Transport for Hertfordshire Strategic Board have now been established which will oversee Mission Delivery.
- An audit has now been undertaken of all sustainable transport activities and baseline of transport related emissions completed which will help develop targets for the Mission
Right Homes, Right Places (overseen by a newly established Right Homes, Right Places Steering Group
- A pipeline of potential development sites being collated from all Councils across Hertfordshire.
- Governance arrangements for Right Homes Right Places has been established; a workshop with stakeholders held and a Mission delivery action plan developed
Healthy and Safe Places for All (overseen by a newly established Healthy Places for all Steering Group)
- Governance arrangements have been established for Healthy & Safe Places Strategic Group and a stocktake of relevant work with partner organisations is now underway in order to feed into a Healthy Place Making Framework.
- The Healthy Places team are developing a technical appendix to set out Public Health expectations for emerging local plans.