Release date: 17 November 2020

East Hampshire District Council - RegenCo appointed by Homes England to support the redevelopment of the former Panshanger Aerodrome site in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire

A council-owned consultancy has been appointed to support the high-profile re-development of land formerly in use as Panshanger Aerodrome in the Welwyn Hatfield district of Hertfordshire.

EHDC-RegenCo, which forms part of East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), has been appointed by Homes England to project manage the development. 

The site and scheme, which has the potential to deliver over 815 homes in total, already has outline planning consent for 650 homes with the potential for 165 or more as part of Phase 2. 

Established following EHDC’s successful work in accelerating the regeneration of Whitehill & Bordon, EHDC-RegenCo offers a strong and unique public/private partnership combining public sector knowledge and understanding with private sector pace and ingenuity.

Cllr Richard Millard, Leader of East Hampshire District Council, said: ‘EHDC-RegenCo has developed an excellent track record of helping local authorities, Homes England and other partners accelerate the delivery of high-quality homes, jobs and sustainable communities, as well as drive forward town centre regeneration schemes. 

“We have been able to do this through our acute understanding and knowledge of how local authorities work and the challenges they face in their communities, combined with our association with some of the best planners, designers and technical specialists in the business.  We look forward to utilising this experience to help Homes England, Welwyn Hatfield and many more authorities and public sector partners develop top quality schemes – and to deliver them at pace.’

The EHDC-RegenCo team which comprises in-house council resource supplemented by specialist associates from Luken Beck (planning), fabrik (masterplanning and landscape architecture), CampbellReith (transport and engineering), ADCC (cost and programme advice), FLOH (energy and utilities), DFA (ecology), HCUK Group (archaeology) and BECG (communications) have been retained to:

• maximise the value and housing potential of the site, consistent with local planning policy, good urban design principles, and Homes England objectives
• provide strategy advice to maximise the efficiency and deliverability of the existing outline planning permission
• prepare a high quality, sustainable and commercially successful phase 2 outline planning application
• prepare a first phase infrastructure delivery programme and associated planning applications
• support the site disposals in the form of supporting information packs and design reviews of developer submissions.