Preparation works are set to begin next week for the £45m regeneration of High View neighbourhood centre in Hatfield.
The works include demolishing a number of vacant buildings across the site in preparation for the main development of 146 new homes, shops and public spaces planned for the area.
Local residents and businesses will see hoardings erected over the coming days and the car park at Bishops Rise will be taken out of use.
To help address the impact on parking, a three hour time limit will be put in place for the Hilltop Car Park, next to the Harrier Pub. The restrictions will operate Monday-Saturday, 8am – 6pm.
The developer, Lovell, aims to complete the demolition works – which are planned to cause minimal disruption to residents and businesses – in twelve weeks.
Lovell proposes to undertake the main development in three phases to ensure businesses can continue to trade as work is carried out. The first phase includes infrastructure works to the road and new homes and commercial units to the north and east side of High View. This phase is expected to take around 18 months.
The council and Lovell have reviewed all working practices to ensure the works can be carried out safely and in line with latest guidance, protecting both staff and members of the public.
Councillor Duncan Bell, Executive Member for Resources at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, said:
“This is a huge step in our ambitious plans for the area and we’re really pleased to finally be on site.
“We have spent years engaging closely with the community to get to this point and I hope they will continue to support us as we work together with Lovell to transform High View.”
Stuart Gibbons, regional managing director at Lovell London, said:
“We are delighted to be starting the regeneration project to deliver much needed quality homes in Hatfield.
“We look forward to working in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council as this major development in Hatfield takes shape.
“Lovell will be operating under strict Covid-19 guidelines across all construction operations on all our sites to keep all workers as safe as possible.”
To report any issues on site, residents or businesses can contact: PropertyDevelopment@welhat.gov.uk