At a meeting of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s Development Management Committee on Tuesday, the proposals for the former Shredded Wheat Factory were given the green light, with 11 votes in favour and one against.
The plans, put forward by Specialist property developer IJM Land and Treble Eight Group, include the construction of 133 new homes, 305 apartments to rent, 141 homes for retirement living and a 180-room apart-hotel.
The masterplan for the Wheat Quarter development. (Image: IJM Land/The Wheat Quarter)
“There are houses hallelujah. Real homes for real families here,” said Russ Platt, Liberal Democrat councillor for Peartree during the meeting.
“Some may not particularly like the designs – I do – but this is a huge shift from the 811 flats that were previously approved, and the 1,220 flats that were proposed in the subsequent application.
“Make no mistake, houses on this site is a win for our town.”
The redevelopment will also include leisure and recreational facilities alongside a bar, restaurant and other retail uses.
The upper levels of the silos will include a sky bar and restaurant, with Cllr Platt glad that the iconic landmarks will be “staying, not as a relic but something living”.
Councillor Russ Platt. (Image: Russ Platt)
The Boiler House, Grain Store and former reception building will be transformed to create a food and beverage area with a tap room and retail space.
Plans also include a climbing and bouldering centre, pickleball or padel courts, and the potential for indoor skydiving or trampolining.
Although concerns were raised during the meeting about parking, access and congestion caused by the development, Cllr Platt believes the redevelopment “offers more good than bad”.
CGI images of what the Wheat Quarter development could look like. (Image: Marengo Communications)
“This application, even with its flaws offers more good than bad. I believe it will reignite the site and bring life to our area,” he said.
“We’ve seen application that have made us shout, made us scream and made us even march and they were the better ones to be honest.
“Today we’re faced with a different application, an application that isn’t perfect but it is better.
“From the start, from my experience, this developer listened. They listened to me, they listened to officer, they listened to the portfolio holder, they listened to feedback and they changed things as a result. That deserves recognition.”
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