Policy information sourced from the East Herts District Plan

BISH5 Bishop’s Stortford South

Land to the south of Whittington Way is allocated as a residential-led mixed-use development, to accommodate around 750 new homes by 2027.

A Masterplan will be collaboratively prepared, involving site promoters, landowners, East Herts Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Bishop’s Stortford Town Council, Thorley Parish Council and other key stakeholders. This document will further be informed by public participation in the process.

The development is expected to address the following provisions and issues:

  • a range of dwelling type and mix, in accordance with the full provisions of Policy HOU1 (Type and Mix of Housing);
  • Affordable Housing in accordance with Policy HOU3 (Affordable Housing);
  • a care home/ flexi-care or sheltered properties in accordance with the provisions of Policy HOU6 (Specialist Housing for Older and Vulnerable People);
  • Self-Build and Custom Build Housing in accordance with Policy HOU8 (Self-Build and Custom Build Housing);
  • education facilities, including land for a two-form entry primary school with an Early Years facility with room to expand to three-forms of entry; land for a six-form entry secondary school with room to expand to eight-forms of entry to meet longer term needs;
  • indoor and outdoor sports facilities will be delivered as part of the secondary school, which should provide for the dual use of facilities for community purposes;
  • a neighbourhood centre in an accessible location, providing local retail and community uses including a healthcare facility;
  • 4-5 hectares of new employment land of landmark design, in an accessible location;
  • appropriate access arrangements, which will not include direct vehicular access on to London Road, and wider strategic and local highways mitigation measures, including improvements along London Road;
  • sustainable transport measures which encourage walking and cycling through the site and beyond, including:
    • the provision of cycleways and footways that provide links into the existing residential areas;
    • appropriate treatment of the Hertfordshire Way, including the retention of an open southerly aspect;
    • enhancement of other Public Rights of Way, making new east-west connections across London Road;
    • enhanced passenger transport services to the town centre and station, including the creation of a sustainable route through the site;
  • responding to the existing landform, incorporating existing landscaping within new streets, paths and spaces, creating quality local green infrastructure which maximises opportunities presented by existing landscape features including watercourses, to create net gains to biodiversity through additional planting and other measures;
  • sustainable drainage and provision for flood mitigation;
  • a variety of public open spaces across the site, including the provision of play areas and opportunities for indoor and outdoor health and fitness activities, as well as space for wildlife;
  • maintain and enhance ecological connections to existing green infrastructure assets such as Southern Country Park and the Stort valley;
  • layout and orientation of spaces to facilitate views and vistas beyond the site, in particular towards Thorley Church and Wallbury Camp, protecting and enhancing the setting of listed buildings along London Road where necessary. This will be done through careful layout, design and planted screening;
  • necessary utilities, including integrated communications infrastructure to facilitate home-working, and upgrades to the localised sewerage network;
  • the delivery of all other necessary on-site and appropriate off-site infrastructure;
  • other policy provisions of the District Plan, Bishop’s Stortford Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan for All Saints, Central, South and parts of Thorley Wards and any other relevant matters, as appropriate.

In order to ensure that the site is planned and delivered comprehensively, any application for development on part of the site will be assessed against its contribution to the masterplan, and will ensure that such development would not prejudice the implementation of the site allocation as a whole.

For more information please see the District Plan