Hatfield Town Centre Compulsory Purchase Order approved

The £100 million redevelopment of Hatfield Town Centre received a boost this New Year when GO East confirmed that the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and the Road Closure Order (RCO) for the proposed scheme had been approved by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The decision was made by an independent Inspector following a Public Inquiry held in September last year. The Public Inquiry heard representations from the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and St Modwen as well as those parties who were objecting to the proposals.

This approval is another significant milestone in bringing forward the much needed regeneration of Hatfield Town Centre. The Hatfield Town Centre East scheme is being proposed by St Modwen, the UK's leading regeneration specialist, in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and English

Partnerships.

The site assembly process is significantly advanced with 80% of the site already in the ownership of the Partnership. The CPO allows the remaining parts of the site to be acquired under compulsory purchase powers. In addition, the decision also provides the right for St Modwen to build over parts of the highway and footpaths that are within the site boundary to deliver the scheme.

The proposed scheme received planning consent in March 2007 and extends over

8 acres of Hatfield Town Centre. The proposals include shops, cafes and restaurants as well as a new multi-storey car park (575 car spaces), a new Primary Care Trust facility, a new Town Centre Bus Stop facility, improvements to the public amenity and public realm as well as 275 residential units.

Construction of the scheme will be carried out over 3 phases. Phase 1, which will include some retail and the multi-storey car park, is expected to

start late this year. The redevelopment is expected to be completed late 2011/2012.

Rupert Wood, Regional Manager for St Modwen said: "St Modwen is delighted that a compulsory purchase order and road closure order has been secured.

It is a key marker for the project and brings the proposals for redeveloping Hatfield Town Centre closer to reality.

"We continue to work closely with the Council and English Partnerships to deliver a regenerated town centre that Hatfield deserves and that the community will be proud of".

Councillor Alan Franey, Welwyn Hatfield Council¹s Executive Member for Resources, which includes property management said: "I am very pleased that the final important milestone for this project has been approved. The regeneration of Hatfield Town Centre is much needed and once the scheme is complete residents and businesses will enjoy an attractive, accessible, clean and vibrant centre to shop, live, work and relax in."

The CPO as confirmed will be placed on deposit at the Council's main offices in Welwyn Garden City and at the Hatfield Housing Office.

Contacts:

Nancy Sardari-Kermani, Senior Communications Officer, Welwyn Hatfield Council

Tel: 01707 357271

Email: n.sardari-kermani@welhat.gov.uk

Rupert Wood, Regional Manager, St Modwen

Tel: 020 7499 5666

Email: rwood@stmodwen.co.uk

Paul Raymer, Press Officer, St Modwen Properties Plc

Tel: 0121 313 1000

Email: paul.raymer@howlechapmanraymer.co.uk.


Editor¹s Notes:

Hatfield Town Centre East comprises approximately 8 acres ß A Development Agreement was signed in December 2005 between Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, English Partnerships and St Modwen ß Detailed Planning consent was granted in March 2007