Planning context
The St James’ Park masterplan
St James’ Park masterplan was granted planning permission in December 2019.
The original planning application for the overall masterplan comprised a full, detailed application for 142 dwellings, alongside an outline application for 608 dwellings, a care home, employment land, a Local Centre, a primary school, a secondary school and open space – with details of these aspects to come forward in reserved matters applications.
The first homes on the site were completed in summer 2021. St James’ Park now has 160 homes occupied across the site, the majority of which have been built by Countryside.
The Local Centre is located on the southern border of the masterplan site, with the employment area to the east, new homes to the north and west and Bishop’s Stortford High School and the future new primary school to the north west.
The site is well connected via the local highway network and is easily accessible for the residents and businesses of St James’ Park and Bishop’s Stortford more widely.
The Local Centre
A Local Centre was included in the original plans for St James’ Park. The Local Centre will provide a variety of amenities at the heart of the new community.
The outline planning permission permits a range of uses in the Local Centre, including up to 1,000 sqm of shops; and up to 2,200 sqm of cafes, restaurants, hot food takeaway, local services, gym, nursery and community uses.
Countryside is working with development partners Central Co-op and McDonald’s to deliver this Local Centre.
The principle for the development has already been approved and the Reserved Matters submission seeks approval of the appearance, layout, landscaping, scale and access for the Local Centre only.
