Here at the Hatfield Review we always strive to get proper answers to the questions that our community want answering. With regards to the on-off regeneration of Hatfield's neglected town centre, we put the same questions to both the Borough Council and developer St.Modwens. Only St.Modwens replied, and we are grateful to them for their courtesy: Q1. Will the WH Council please confirm that St. Modwen are now locked into a contract to redevelop the town centre as per their plans released earlier this year - and cannot now walk away from their commitments?

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, St. Modwen and the Homes and Communities Agency have signed an amended Development Agreement to reflect the revised town centre scheme.

The purpose of a Development Agreement is to provide a framework between parties to bring forward development in accordance with agreed parameters. It is subject to a number of conditions, for example planning, securing stopping up orders, viability, and funding, which need to be satisfied prior to a development proceeding.

We believe the revised scheme represents the best opportunity for development to happen, and the flexibility to deliver regeneration in phases over time, albeit viability remains challenging due to the ongoing economic national and global challenges.

Q2. Will the WH Council please reveal the schedule for the redevelopment with precise dates for each phase?

The revised scheme still has a funding gap which will not be bridged until the economy improves or additional government funding is found, and therefore it is very difficult to give exact dates for the delivery of individual phases.

The first phase, development of the former Bill Salmon site and Block C (the frontage to The Arcade), is progressing. Stopping up orders need to be secured and we expect that process to commence in December/January. We are also in final discussions with an investor to take on the residential elements of Phase 1 (19 units).

Q3. Will the WH Council please confirm if there is a penalty clause within their contract with St. Modwen for non delivery of a particular phase or any other elements?

As outlined above, a Development Agreement is not the same as a building contract, and therefore does not hold the same stipulations that would enforce a development to take place regardless of viability.

Rather, it is a framework for the parties to bring development forward, with conditions that will need to be satisfied in order for development to proceed. These agreements have key dates to assess progress and allow parties to monitor and determine when the development can be delivered.

Q4. Will St. Modwen please tell us if they are actively marketing the town centre for new retailers and reveal what retailers, if any, have signed up to locate to the new town centre upon its completion.

St. Modwen has retail led schemes across the UK and we are in discussions with retailers for a number of projects, including Hatfield. Retailers are interested in taking space in the town centre but will only progress negotiations when there is certainty over when the scheme can be delivered.

Q5. The proposed town centre development largely comprises the construction of residential apartments with some shop units under them. However, St.Modwen have recently said that they will proceed "as soon as market conditions improve". Could we have a more precise understanding of this statement, and what the indicators are for these conditions, as it seems there is plenty of residential development work happening in and around Hatfield at present and a need for more?

This is a mixed-use retail and residential scheme which inherently has a number of challenges to overcome – as detailed above. Unfortunately, no-one can predict or give certainty on any growth in the economy over coming months, but we think this is a scheme which is deliverable and likely to proceed when the market improves.

Following on from this lacklustre reply we will be asking more questions for and on your behalf