Pair have already built 300 homes at Bishop’s Stortford site
A £200m plan to turn an area around Bishop’s Stortford railway station in Hertfordshire into new homes and commercial space has been approved by East Herts District Council.
Network Rail and Kier Property, through their Solum Regeneration joint venture, have already built 320 flats, 64 affordable homes and a new multi-storey car park as part of the project.
Following a change to the Goods Yard site boundary, East Herts endorsed a new masterplan for the entire Goods Yard site in March 2022.
The new planning approval will enable Solum to complete the scheme, delivering a further 423 homes, cycle and pedestrian links, additional commercial space, and further improvement to the station forecourt.
David Bridges, managing director at Solum said: “We are grateful to the cuncil for its long-term engagement and to the local community for their input and support.
“This approval unlocks a scheme that secures real benefits for Bishop’s Stortford — new homes, public realm improvements and renewed investor confidence to deliver more jobs through these works.
>>See also: ’This is a growth story’… How Network Rail plans to become one of the UK’s biggest housebuilders
“We’re now focused on getting on with the next phase.”
Robin Dobson, group property director for Network Rail Property said: ”“The Goods Yard site is a great example of how we can bring underused brownfield land back into use, bringing forward a further 423 homes and wider community benefits.
“Through our Solum partnership, we’re helping to deliver much-need homes and local amenities in central and sustainable locations – while also generating funds to reinvest into the rail network and improve passenger facilities.”
Dobson told Housing Today in January he wants Network Rail, Britain’s largest owner of brownfield land, to become one of the country’s biggest housebuilders. He believes it could build as many as 50,000 homes.
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