One could also ask what has happened to the Wrenbridge planning application for the regeneration of Bircherley Green. According to their Twitter account and I quote: 'We will be submitting a planning application on the Bircheley Green Shopping Centre in Hertford. A mix of retail, A3, hotel and residential
6:22 a.m. - 15 Dec 2015'. They add: 'Wrenbridge @Wrenbridge Mar 3
Up to 5 planning applications due to go in before the end of June and hopefully 3-4 build contracts too which will total close to 40M.'
One has to ask where this hotel will be placed on the Hertford Monopoly Board.
One could also ask what has happened to the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy developed by Tibbalds and others which includes amongst other things the following: 2.2.20 Hotels: Requirements registered by hotel operators and collated by AspinallVerdi show that there is known demand for a hotel in the area. Given the limited supply of hotels within Hertford there is likely to be potential demand for a new hotel in the town centre. Provision of a hotel will further support tourism within the town and help to establish the evening economy. Businesses are also likely to benefit from such a facility.
Well that's a surprise given the announcement from Tibbalds - or possibly the other way round.
You may wonder where this Strategy has been hiding (other than in a folder on my home computer). It was presented to the various councils and stakeholders who have contributed to this development (unfortunately not the writer) on Feb 18. On Feb 25 it was presented to the Development Management Control Committee.
If you would like to read and inwardly digest this massive tome of 112 pages (landscape view) as an Adobe reader file then go to
http://democracy.eastherts.gov.uk/ieLis ... 2839&Ver=4
and look for ERPB.
Almost the whole of Hertford had an input into this yet it remains hidden away from public view including it would seem the Fourth Estate or the Hertfordshire Mercury. The relevance of this strategy was conveyed to Council by Planning Officers as such: 'Officers advised on the distinction between an urban strategy and a neighbourhood plan within the context of considering a planning application. The Panel noted that an adopted neighbourhood plan formed part of the development plan, whilst this Strategy did not, although it was a material consideration that could inform a planning application.' Clear as a pub glass. The full minutes are also available as above.
Finally D-Day approaches or June 16th.
Final PS in answer to Steve I believe the Mercury reported that Van Hages would be resubmitting an application once they were certain of a positive response which I assume means redesignation of the Green Belt. This was expected to be later this year. In the meantime Waitrose/Diageo/Wrenbridge/East Herts have to make up their mind as to what they really really want.