Policy information sourced from the East Herts District Plan

BISH7 The Goods Yard

The Bishop’s Stortford Town Centre Planning Framework will form the basis of a Supplementary Planning Document, which will be used to inform the masterplanning of this site.

The Goods Yard will provide for around 600 homes between 2017 and 2027, as part of a mixed use development including a significant amount of B1a office floorspace and small-scale retail provision and other community and leisure uses. Development of the site shall include:

  • a range of dwelling type and mix, in accordance with the provisions of Policy HOU1 (Type and Mix of Housing), including residential apartments on the upper floors of commercial uses and 3-4 bed family homes;
  • Affordable Housing in accordance with Policy HOU3 (Affordable Housing);
  • Self-Build and Custom Build Housing in accordance with Policy HOU8 (Self-Build and Custom Build Housing);
  • sustainable transport measures which encourage walking and cycling through the site and beyond, including:
    • the provision of cycleways and footpaths that provide links through the site, connecting the river to the station, the station and the town centre via the Anchor Street Leisure Park and improved Station Road bridge, and to provide opportunities to cross the railway line;
    • the creation of a new station forecourt that provides a safe and attractive public realm which facilitates the movement of people between various modes of transport;
    • enhanced passenger transport services to the town centre and station, including the creation of a sustainable route through the site;
  • high quality, vehicle-free public realm along the river frontage, enabling improved access to the town centre along the waterway. The orientation of buildings will retain an open riverside environment, facilitate views of local landmarks and provide a direct route between the Goods Yard footbridge and the station;
  • landscaping and tree planting to reduce urban heat island effects, including retention and enhancement of the area of woodland to the south of the site;
  • improvements to the riverside environment in line with the River Stort Catchment Management Programme;
  • high quality design which incorporates local material pallets and provides varying character and style across the site, incorporating sustainable design features;
  • residential blocks which have access to private amenity green space, separate from parking areas;
  • multistorey parking which is appropriately screened and separated from residential buildings, ensuring homes have pleasant outlooks;
  • 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 relevant matters, as appropriate.

On-site car parking will need to be sufficient to meet the needs of the uses proposed, without encouraging travel to the town centre in order to avoid worsening traffic congestion and further impact on the Hockerill Air Quality Management Area. Parking will need to be provided to serve the town centre as well as commuters.

Site promoters must work with Hertfordshire County Council as the Highways and Transport Authority to undertake transport modelling to assess and provide suitable mitigation measures against vehicular congestion in the town centre.

For more information please see the District Plan