Developer Responds To Bircherley Green Inaction

Bircherley Green developer Wrenbridge have responded to an open letter from Grahams The Jewellers regarding stalled work on the town centre site.

In comments about the stalled work, Wrenbridge said "To ensure the viability of the development, we have proposed a number of changes, including alterations to the Premier Inn development and converting 14 of the 70 already approved apartments into office space for housing association, Network Homes. To date, EHDC has not approved these changes.

"The future of the redevelopment is reliant on EHDC getting fully behind the scheme."

A decision on Wrenbridge's amended plans for the shopping centre is expected at the next Development Control Committee on 22nd May.

Wrenbridge's statement in full:

"We appreciate there are concerns locally about delays – we share many of these frustrations and are in regular dialogue with East Herts District Council (EHDC) about this.

"The development partners are working hard to move things forward at pace so construction can begin and breathe new life into the town centre but, as we said in March, the future of the redevelopment is reliant on EHDC getting fully behind the scheme.

"To ensure the viability of the development, we have proposed a number of changes, including alterations to the Premier Inn development and converting 14 of the 70 already approved apartments into office space for housing association, Network Homes. To date, EHDC has not approved these changes.

"The next milestone is Wednesday 22 May, when EHDC’s planning committee will consider our plans to convert flats into office space, which are critical to the success of the scheme.

"Occupiers who have already signed up to the scheme are on tight timescales and need greater certainty on the future of the project. We hope EHDC will provide this in the coming weeks.

"We will be posting updates on our website – www.bircherleygreenregneration.com – to provide the local community with the most up-to-date information."