St Albans News
The latest St Albans news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
St Albans Local Plan adopted: 15,045 homes, 1994 plan gone
Councillors adopted the St Albans Local Plan on 9 September, replacing the 1994 plan the same day. It plans 15,045 homes and £750m of infrastructure.
More stories
Council
St Albans council abolition paused: May 2027 poll goes ahead
The plan to abolish St Albans council in 2028 and merge it with Dacorum is on hold under a government review. The district election on 6 May 2027 goes ahead.
Schools
Beaumont School: four blocks to go in phase two rebuild
The Department for Education wants four Beaumont School buildings demolished and one part three-storey teaching block put up. Registered 4 September.
Food hygiene
St Albans food hygiene ratings: 814 fives, one zero
Three in four rated premises in St Albans district hold five stars. Nineteen hold two or below, and a Harpenden kitchen has held a zero since 9 June.
Roads
A414 Park Street closure: every weekend from 11 September
The A414 between M1 junction 8 and Park Street closes 8pm Friday to 6am Monday from 11 September, until 2027. The diversion runs through St Albans.
Local Plan
St Albans Local Plan: 611-name petition, vote on 9 September
A 611-signature petition asks councillors to reject the Local Plan on Wednesday. Officers say they cannot change it: the only choice is adopt or do not adopt.
Local Plan
St Albans Local Plan ruled sound, adoption vote 9 September
Two government inspectors signed the plan off on 21 August and councillors vote on adopting it on 9 September, replacing the 1994 plan. Three sites were added, sixteen deleted.
Community
St Albans defibrillators: mayor's appeal funds three more
A civic year raised £4,760, enough for three defibrillators and two CPR training manikins. The volunteers who carry them still need £6,600 to replace five ageing units.
Business
St Albans BID ballot: 546 firms vote by 8 October
Ballot papers reach 546 city centre businesses on 7 September and must be back by 5pm on 8 October. The levy rate falls to 1.85% and £3.1m rides on it.
Jobs
St Albans claimant count: under-25s at a five-year high
Under-25 claims rose 23% in a year to 395, the most since September 2021 and the steepest rise in Hertfordshire, while the district total edged up by just 70.
Schools
St Albans GCSE results 2026: 46% of STAHS grades were 9s
St Albans School reports 59% of GCSE entries at grades 9-8, STAHS 46% at grade 9. Beaumont calls it a record year and publishes no figure. Remarks close 24 September.
House prices
St Albans house prices hit a record £651,448 in June
The district average has passed its December 2024 peak for the first time, up 4.3% in a year. Terraced homes rose fastest at 5.4%, and May was revised upwards.
Council
St Albans Council Abolition Plan: 2028 Merger Now Paused
The July plan to abolish St Albans council in 2028 and merge it with Dacorum is paused under a government review. What the decision said, and what still stands.
Council
St Albans City Centre Parish Council: 25 Seats, May 2027
Full Council approved a new parish council for central St Albans on 15 July: 25 councillors across nine wards, elected 6 May 2027. Harpenden Rural is abolished.
Schools
St Albans A-level results 2026: only two put figures out
STAHS reports 75% of grades at A or A*, St Albans School 62.9%, against 48.6% at independent schools nationally. Plus the 20 August remark deadline.
Business
Perrin Myddelton in administration: what clients should do
Quantuma administrators took over the Harpenden law firm on 10 August. It is still SRA-licensed, and client-account money is not the firm's to spend.