Following four months of preparation and demolition works, Lovell has officially broken ground at High View in Hatfield to deliver a combination of 146 quality new homes, a retail centre, community facilities, and amenities.
Working in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Lovell will deliver a range of housing from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom houses over the next four years.
The new homes will include 25% affordable housing, the majority of which will be for social rent for people on the council’s housing register.
Lovell will build 72 units in the first phase (2021-2022), which will include 37 affordable homes and 35 private flats and houses.
During this period, 12 retail units will open as well as infrastructure upgrades to improve connections around High View and access to The Hive community centres.
A £50,000 community grant from Lovell will support organisations such as the local scout group and St John’s Community Centre.
This is in addition to the agreed Section 106 contributions to local primary and secondary schools, sustainable transport, youth and library services, and indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
The leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, councillor Tony Kingsbury, was joined on site by Lovell’s Pre-commencement and Development director, Mick Laws, to officially break ground on the new development.
“We know the south Hatfield community has waited a long time to see our plans come to fruition, and I couldn’t be more pleased to finally see the diggers moving earth,” Kingsbury said.
“The council and Lovell will be doing everything possible to support existing traders as work is carried out.
“We have carefully designed the work programme to ensure businesses can continue to trade throughout, whilst we get on with delivering brand new, high-quality commercial space.”
Lovell will build 18 commercial units to provide premises for all current tenants as well as new businesses.
A new green space and play park is at the heart of the development, which also includes a variety of new planting and landscaping to encourage people to visit and enjoy the area.
The existing bus route will be maintained, and improvements will be made to encourage walking and cycling.
Stuart Gibbons, regional managing director at Lovell London and Southern, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council to deliver much needed homes for the local residents.
“This is a landmark site for the people of Hatfield and this major scheme will transform the area into a vibrant community.”
Lovell is part of Morgan Sindall Group plc, a UK-based construction and regeneration group with revenues of c£3.1bn.
Image: Artist’s impression of the High View development in Hatfield
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