Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SP 17 Mixed use development site at Broadwater Road West (SDS3 - Pea102, Pea02b and Pea02c)

Land at Broadwater Road West is allocated for development to accommodate approximately 1,863 new homes over the plan period. Mixed use development on this site will comprise primarily employment, housing, leisure and rail-related uses. Development on this site will comply with the Broadwater Road West Supplementary Planning Document. Development on this site will conform to the Strategy Diagram shown in Figure 10 below and the following principles:

  1. To create a sustainable neighbourhood with an appropriate mix and density of uses for its central location; and to support living and working in close proximity;
  2. To establish strong connections between the east side of town, the site and through to the town centre by the provision of footpath and cycleway links;
  3. To provide a wide mix of housing types, sizes and tenures, including a minimum of 30% of all units as affordable housing unless it can be robustly demonstrated that such a proportion would not be viable; housing for older people;
  4. To use the industrial heritage as a cue for form, character and identity – re-use listed structures and ensure sympathetic development;
  5. To adopt the urban design principles set out in the Broadwater Road West Supplementary Planning Document;
  6. To accommodate large scale uses which would best be located near the town centre;
  7. To incorporate open space in accordance with the principles set out in the Broadwater Road West Supplementary Planning Document;
  8. At least 5,800 square metres of Class E(g) employment floorspace will be provided in addition to that which was already provided on the site as at 1st April 2016;
  9. About 1,850 dwellings will be provided in addition to those already provided on the site as at 1st April 2016. Affordable housing will be sought on the basis of an overall 30% on-site delivery target;
  10. Provision will also be made for community uses, fitness / leisure, retail (about 570 square metres), cafés / restaurants / bars and a hotel;
  11. Building heights should be lower in the southern part of the site;
  12. The setting of, and longer views to and from, heritage assets, including Hatfield House, should be preserved.

Development at this site must contribute towards school provision off-site in the immediate vicinity. Development at this site will also need to include upgraded wastewater infrastructure and take into account noise from the railway and adjacent commercial activities as well as the potential for contaminated land.

Once constructed, all new class E(g) development on this site will be afforded the same policy protection as that accorded by Policy SADM10 of this plan.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan