Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SP 20 Hatfield Town Centre Strategy

The Council will promote the co-ordinated regeneration of Hatfield town centre and will support development within the town centre boundary that; makes a positive contribution to improving the town centre’s viability and vitality, helps to create a comfortable, safe, attractive and accessible shopping environment, and improves both the overall mix of land uses in the centre and its connectivity to adjoining areas. This will be achieved, in accordance with the Strategy Diagram in Figure 13 below, through the following objectives:

  • Securing new shopping opportunities in the town centre, in order to enhance the variety and quality of retail provision. The main opportunity for this is the mixed use development site at 1-9 Town Centre (HS36)
  • Encouraging a balanced mix and diversity of uses in the town centre including retail, leisure, community uses, offices and housing.
  • Supporting existing and new communities.
  • Enhancing the quality of the environment and public realm.
  • Improving access for pedestrians and cyclists within and to the town centre.
  • Enhancing and better integrating public transport within the town centre, and by developing sustainable transport links with The Galleria and the railway station.
  • Ensuring an appropriate supply of attractive, convenient and safe car parking that is managed for the needs of shoppers, visitors and businesses alike and considering options for either multi-storey or decked parking.
  • Ensuring provision for the town centre markets and other events.
  • Promoting a safe and secure environment.
  • Supporting the long term management and maintenance of the town centre.

All new development within Hatfield town centre will be required to contribute positively to this strategy and to the regeneration of the town centre. To achieve this, applications for larger scale development (over 1,000sqm floorspace) will be required to:

  1. demonstrate how the proposal will support the delivery of the town centre strategy;
  2. demonstrate how the proposal has been informed by the current, emerging and future context of the site and surrounding area;
  3. ensure that the proposal is not detrimental to the successful current or future implementation of other nearby sites or their ability to meet the town centre vision or objectives.

Applications across multiple sites must be supported by a masterplan to demonstrate the acceptability of an individual scheme and that a comprehensive approach has been taken to their redevelopment.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan