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Churchgate - read the English Heritage Report here

The English Heritage Urban Panel Review Paper (July 2011) on proposed town centre developments in Bishop’s Stortford and Hitchin can be seen in full - just click here.

 

National Planning Policy Framework

The Hitchin Society’s response to the government consultation on changes to the planning system (October 2011) can be read here.

 

Churchgate - a Joint Statement:

 

Churchgate Liaison Forum - fourth meeting, 24 November 2010

At the end of this meeting, a strongly worded statement was issued on behalf of the civic and community groups represented on the Churchgate Liaison Forum: The Hitchin Society, Hitchin Historical Society and Hitchin Forum.

This emphasised how little progress had been made towards any meaningful response to the clearly stated concerns of Hitchin people which have been expressed formally at the CLF by the three organisations.  It was therefore now necessary to restate these concerns as unambiguous, fundamental principles; these need to be followed in any revised scheme if support is to be achieved through the public consultation process.  These principles are:

o        Market on single site

The market to be retained as a single site in an appropriate location that meets the requirements of the market traders

o        No buildings on St Mary’s Square

St Mary’s Square to be retained as an open space for enhancement only – i.e. no building above the existing level of St Mary’s Square anywhere on St Mary’s Square

o        Safeguard The Biggin

Any building on the part of the existing market adjacent to The Biggin to respect the scale and special character of The Biggin. The taller the proposed building, the greater the separation distance needs to be.

o        Churchyard Walk only two storeys

As with the existing, buildings on Churchyard Walk flanking St Mary’s to be no higher than two storeys

o        Respect scale of town centre

The scheme to respect the scale and grain of Hitchin town centre.

o        Massive step-change is unacceptable risk

We further believe that any increase to the retail mass of Hitchin town centre should be through incremental growth and not by a massive step-change. The current proposals represent an unacceptable risk to the vitality and success of the town centre.

 

A statement of these principles was passed to representatives of the Council for incorporation in the official notes of the meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Archive material

Earlier campaigning presentations or objections may be seen as below:

 

Hitchin Town Hall December 2009

 

Eastern expansion of Luton June 2009

 

West of Stevenage (SNAP) January 2008

 

Development West of Hitchin October 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hitchin Society Newsletter

Download Newsletter by clicking on the issue dates below:

May 2011

November 2010

June 2010

November 2008

May 2008

June 2007

November 2006

September 2005

April 2005