Cityheart submits application to transform Bishop's Stortford
Ambitious proposals to transform Bishop's Stortford town centre have finally been submitted to East Herts Council.
Cityheart, the authority's development partner, wants planning permission to build a cultural quarter at the Causeway called Old River Lane.
Its master plan is for a new public square, pedestrian-friendly streets, 150 new homes, 75 "extra care" dwellings, 1,000 sqm retail space, 3,500 sqm office building and a landmark, £15.5m arts centre.
According to Cityheart, the arts centre will act "as an engaging and exciting cultural building which is a hub for the community, local residents and visitors" with "high-end cinema and digital entertainment" alongside "a varied live performance programme".
The scheme also includes a new junction along Link Road so that Old River Lane would be reserved for access only, allowing the route to connect Bridge Street and Jackson Square with the Northgate End multi-storey car park.
Cityheart's submission claims: "The masterplan is a pedestrian-focussed addition to the thriving commercial heart of Bishop's Stortford, providing a 'canvas' for the community to gather and socialise, and for future residents and visitors to enjoy sustainable homes, workspaces, learning and leisure opportunities."
The development must also "deliver a financially sustainable scheme that provides value for money for the council".
East Herts already controls the bulk of the site including the Causeway car park. A separate and equally contentious application has already been submitted to demolish the council-owned United Reformed Church Hall in Water Lane and the Charringtons office block and homes on Old River Lane to make way for the new scheme which includes the re-provision of 181 Waitrose parking spaces.
Campaigners against the scheme have already mobilised to block the plans by registering the church hall as an asset of community value.
The next step is to buy the building through community subscriptions and transfer its ownership to a trust.
The town's civic federation, the Old River Lane Cross-party Working Group and Bishop's Stortford Climate Group have vowed to step up their opposition to both applications in the New Year.
A spokeswoman for East Herts Council told the Indie that as the latest application was submitted over the Christmas holidays, the consultation period would be extended to allow the community to comment.
The authority's Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Mione Goldspink, a harsh critic of the Conservative administration's aspirations, said: "Over the past months, the council leadership has been obsessed by rapid delivery above sensible town planning as well as disregarding changing economic conditions."
