A Planning Inspectorate decision to withdraw Stevenage Borough Council's core strategy has put the development of 20,000 homes at risk, as the abolition of regional level planning hands planning power back to local councils.

The inspectorate's finding reveals that while Stevenage Borough Council's core strategy conforms with the East of England Plan, neighbouring North Hertfordshire District Council no longer needs to co-operate with the extension of 9,600 new homes into its district, under new pledges in the localism bill.