Council resolves to grant planning permission for northern part of former Shredded Wheat site
WHBC has resolved to grant planning permission, subject to signing a legal agreement, to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the northern part of the former Shredded Wheat Factory.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has resolved to grant planning permission, subject to signing a legal agreement, to grant planning permission for the redevelopment of the northern part of the former Shredded Wheat factory site in Welwyn Garden City. The decision was made at the Council’s Development Management Committee meeting on Wednesday (18 November).
The scheme, which is called the ‘Wheat Quarter’ and has been developed by property developer IJM, will transform the long-vacant industrial site into a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood featuring new homes, an aparthotel, community facilities and publicly accessible spaces. The approved plans include:
- 578 new homes, including townhouses, build-to-rent apartments and a 141-unit retirement living community building
- A 180-room aparthotel with an ancillary public café
- The restoration and reuse of the Grade II listed silos, creating space for leisure, retail, co-working and food and beverage uses centred around a new public square
- New retail floorspace, a secure cycle hub and improved pedestrian connections to Welwyn Garden City railway station and the town centre, including a lift
- New public open space, including landscaped routes and gardens
- Associated access, basement and surface parking, landscaping, and supporting infrastructure
The redevelopment forms a key component of the Broadwater Road West strategic site, allocated in the Local Plan for residential-led mixed-use regeneration, and includes the repurposing of the iconic Grade II listed former Shredded Wheat silos as the focal point of a new public square. The project will play an important role in delivering new homes, supporting town centre vitality, and bringing a prominent brownfield site back into active use. Developer IJM is expected to progress the next stages of the project following the granting of planning permission.
Councillor Rose Grewal, Executive Member for Planning, said:
“The old Shredded Wheat factory site has been vacant for a long time so I am delighted that Council’s Development Management Committee has resolved to grant planning permission for the development of this site. Supporting our town centres is a priority for the Council and the Wheat Quarter will be a wonderful addition to Welwyn Garden City. I would like to thank officers and IJM for their hard work on developing these exciting plans.”