Housebuilder Bellway has been chosen as Homes England’s preferred development partner for the 135-acre site at the former Panshanger Aerodrome in Hertfordshire.
Homes England appointed Savills to find a partner for that site, known as DeHavilland Park, in September 2023.
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has approved planning for 860 residential properties at DeHavilland Park, 30% of which will be affordable.
Bellway will deliver 760 homes, with two serviced parcels of land earmarked for 50 homes each handed back to Homes England for future sales.
The proposals also include retirement accommodation, a primary school, traveller pitches, a new community centre, leisure facilities, open space, allotments and associated access/landscaping works.
Panshanger Aerodrome was previously used as a decoy for the De Havilland aviation factory in Hatfield during World War II. It was then later used as a civic airfield for light aircraft.
Joe Last, chartered surveyor at Savills Cambridge, said the scheme has the potential to deliver sustainable growth in the shape of high-quality housing, retail and community uses.
He added: “With permission for redevelopment into a sustainable new community, DeHavilland Park represents a unique opportunity for a high-quality, low-density urban extension with an emphasis on design and placemaking,” he said.
“We had strong interest in the site from a number of parties and are delighted to have agreed a deal with Bellway – signalling the start of an important scheme that will significantly contribute to the supply of much-needed new homes in Hertfordshire and the wider east of England.”
Ali Maruf, Bellway North London managing director, said: “With the land purchase now secured, we will be liaising with the local authority to formulate our detailed plans to transform the former Panshanger Aerodrome into a brand-new neighbourhood. This exciting regeneration project will not only deliver new housing but will also provide a new school and other new facilities which will benefit the community as a whole.”
Bellway is currently under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority, along with seven other housebuilders, over evidence the housebuilders could be “sharing commercially sensitive information” with their rivals.
The watchdog will investigate Barratt, Bellway, Berkeley, Bloor Homes, Persimmon, Redrow, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry after a year-long review into housebuilding practices across England, Scotland and Wales.
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