County Hall to be sold for new homes

The County Hall site in Pegs Lane could become a residential development if plans are approved by the county council on Tuesday.

Member of the Resources & Performance Cabinet Panel will discuss a recommendation from Head of Disposals, James Barber, that both the County Hall and Leahose sites be sold to Stansted-based City & County.

The County Hall site has been marketed since 2024 for employment uses without significant interest. A wider marketing campaign for alternative uses from late 2025 to early 2026 led to bids being submitted to acquire the site.

County Hall is largely vacant after most roles were transferred to a modern campus in Stevenage as part of the Our Workplaces programme. The £3-4m cost of running County Hall was a significant driver of the programme.

The adjacent Leahoe site has been previously marketed and the Council was until recently progressing the disposal of the site to the Affordable Housing & Healthcare Group (AHH). Unfortunately, AHH is unable to proceed at the agreed terms.

Hertford Town Council made a bid to acquire the cricket pitch and woodland at County Hall, which has been designated an Asset of Community Value. However, the county council have expressed a preference to sell the entire County Hall site to a single bidder.

A report to the Cabinet Panel states: "City & Country are a developer based in Stansted, Essex, who specialise in the redevelopment and conversion of heritage assets including listed buildings. An example their work is the redevelopment of the 17th century Grade I-listed property in Hertford known as Balls Park.

"Subject to planning permission, and consultation with the local community, City & Country intend to redevelop County Hall into a predominantly residential scheme. This would be based on the retention and sensitive conversion of the 1930s listed buildings into apartments. The more modern former office buildings to the rear would also be retained and converted. The multi-storey car park would be demolished and replaced with new-build apartments. Leahoe House and Gardens would also be developed as a residential scheme.

"The retention and conversion of most buildings on the County Hall site has positive sustainability implications by avoiding the carbon emissions associated with demolition and construction of new buildings. The new build residential apartments will meet the government’s new Future Homes and Building Standards. The scheme overall will also be required to deliver a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain.

"City & County recognise the high heritage value of the front sections of the County Hall site that accommodate the former Council Chamber, reception, ballroom and committee rooms. These areas do not lend themselves to conversion to residential apartments. Instead, the intention is to use them for a range of potential functions such as communal areas, flexible working spaces, and areas available for community use.

"The cricket pitch and woodland would be protected from built development and instead be protected and enhanced for recreation and nature. In addition, City & Country are open to discussions with Richard Hale School on how these areas, and potentially part of the wider County Hall site can be used by the school for educational purposes.

"The Register Office Block at County Hall currently accommodates the Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies Library, and Hertford Register Office. As part of the sale arrangements with City & Country, the Council will be able to continue to have use of these spaces for these functions until alternative accommodation can be provided."

The full report is available on the County Council's website here.