Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SADM 20 Acceptable uses outside the Welwyn Garden City Core Retail Zone (The Campus, Parkway and Church Road)

In Welwyn Garden City Town Centre, as shown on the Policies Map, the Council will encourage the retention of existing civic, cultural, community and leisure uses at The Campus. Where an existing use is no longer required the Council will allow proposals for changes of use or development for office, hotel, leisure, cultural, community, education and residential uses provided that the proposal would meet development criteria i to v below.

On the western side of Parkway and the south side of Church Road, as shown on the Policies Map, the Council will allow proposals for changes of use or development for office, community, cultural and residential uses provided that they meet development criteria i to v below.

Development criteria:

  1. Maintain and where appropriate enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre;
  2. Preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation Area and its setting;
  3. Not harm the amenities of the occupiers of nearby residential areas;
  4. Be properly integrated into the retail core of the town centre, including the provision of good pedestrian linkages; and
  5. Provide adequate highway access and servicing arrangements and would not be detrimental to the highway network including highway safety.

At The Campus, proposals for new civic, cultural, community or leisure facilities or to modernise, extend or re-provide the existing facilities will be supported. Proposals which result in the loss of such facilities will need to satisfy the requirements of SADM 7. Where the site currently provides car parking which serves the needs of the town centre as a whole, this must be replaced within the development site or in an appropriate alternative location.

On the western side of Parkway and the south side of Church Road, Proposals for new or replacement buildings, and any significant alterations or extensions to existing buildings in these areas will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that the development proposed would enhance the character of the conservation area.

Proposals for new cultural or community facilities or to modernise or extend existing facilities will be supported. Proposals which result in the loss of such facilities will need to need to satisfy the requirements of SADM 7.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan