The council is committed to an ambitious programme of change and renewal across Hatfield town centre so we were delighted when, in October, Hatfield was listed in the Sunday Times’ top 20 UK ‘Turnaround Towns’.
The first stage of programme was completed in September 2019 with the opening of the new-look White Lion Square but as part of the council’s ongoing strategy, backed by the Hatfield 2030+ Renewal Partnership, demolition has now started on One Town Centre (covering the old Pizza Hut site and buildings opposite).
Initially, the space will provide temporary parking during the construction of the multi-storey car park on The Common but proposals feature new ground floor retail units, providing additional commercial space in the heart of the town to attract shops and businesses, as well as 71 one and two bedroom homes, of which 25% will be affordable housing.
Over a third of the town centre is currently used for surface level car parking and a multi-storey car park, located on The Common car park, would consolidate this parking in one place, freeing up sites elsewhere for new homes, shops and leisure.
A contract with Bourne Parking Ltd has been secured and they are designing a 420 spaced multi-storey car park to improve access to the town centre shops and businesses. The designs will incorporate graphics featuring iconic aircraft designs, symbolic of Hatfield’s proud aviation heritage. Work is set to commence early 2020.
Over at Link Drive, there are plans for 80 homes across two new buildings on the site of the existing car park, including 25% affordable housing.
These will be designed around the skate park and the surrounding areas will be landscaped to connect to the nearby green spaces and trees.
Much care has been devoted to integrating the development with its surroundings, in particular the retention of the existing mature trees around the boundaries to the north, east and south sides of the site.
