St Albans

It is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt (82%), 32km north of London. Hertfordshire’s towns are influenced by their proximity to the capital. Many local people work in London, and the district benefits from excellent train links into the capital and further afield through easy access to the motorway network. This contributes greatly to local economic prosperity.

St Albans city is the largest settlement in the district; Harpenden lies to the north; the villages of Wheathampstead, Redbourn, Park Street, Bricket Wood, London Colney and Colney Heath, among others, are the other main areas of population outside the city. The district has many firms in the legal, accountancy and financial services sectors and is also home to a sizeable cluster of agri-tech and green technology businesses and world-leading research organisations, Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Rothamsted Research. Other notable employers include AECOM, Premier Foods, Skechers and Burton’s Biscuit Company. 

St Albans City and District continues to have a much lower retail vacancy rate than both the national and regional average, showing the resilience of the retail sector locally, when compared with other areas. St Albans is home to the historic Charter Market, rated the best outdoor market in Britain, and the Arts Council-funded Museum and Gallery.