Hatfield 2030+ Baseline Report
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Hatfield 2030+ Baseline Report September 2015 1 2 Contents 1. Executive Summary 2. Introduction 3. A Brief History of Hatfield 4. Hatfield in 2015 5. Beyond Hatfield 6. Future Urban Trends 7. Moving Forward: Challenges and Opportunities 3 8. References 1. Executive Summary This baseline report has been History of Hatfield Facts and Figures: developed to confirm the key issues, strengths and weaknesses Hatfield benefits from a distinctive Population of the town in order to identify past, drawing on historic roots Hatfield has a growing and challenges and opportunities of past centuries alongside relatively young population, driven that need to be embedded in the distinctive elements of ‘modern by the significant student cohort. Strategic Renewal Framework for history’ associated with its New The disproportionate size of the Hatfield New Town. The report has Town status. Together these form student population has an impact been developed through desktop many of its key assets, being: on service use and housing analysis and site visits, and will Hatfield House and Park accommodation requirements, be supplemented by stakeholder gearing the market towards and community consultation to Old Hatfield and Victorian private rented, as well as having establish priorities and a direction architecture a social impact. Addressing this of travel for the Hatfield. The key Hatfield train station ‘town and gown’ imbalance will report sections are summarised be a consideration for the town’s below: New Town ‘dynamism’ 4 future. Aircraft Industry legacy and present Goodman’s Business Employment Park Hatfield resident’s are generally University of Hertfordshire under-represented in the campuses ‘higher band’ occupations and The Galleria over-represented in sales and customer service occupations and Hatfield’sNew Town legacy elementary occupations (typically brings with it a number of lower wage). challenges inherent to many New Towns, notably being: Hatfield offers high levels of employment, with some 50% an outdated town centre no more jobs (27,000) than working longer fit for purpose; residents (18,000) which leads to high levels of social housing; high in-commuting. Retail jobs make up almost 40% of all jobs, large areas of poor quality and followed by ICT and distribution ageing housing stock, notably (around 10% each). in south Hatfield; and restrictive boundaries limiting future growth. Skills/Earnings/Deprivation Property and Spend Housing: Hatfield has good transport links being within close The residents of Hatfield have an Office: The road network in terms proximity to the M25, A1(M) and average proportion of people with of its proximity to the A1(M), and its less than half an hour directly into higher skill levels but there are ability to provide high spec office Kings Cross via train. With property significant disparities in skill and space has led to significant demand prices in London continuing deprivation levels between the for office space and consequently to rise, Hatfield should be an wards that make up Hatfield with significant employment attractive alternative residential issues apparent in central and opportunities on Hatfield Business location for those priced out of the southern areas. Park. The train services in terms London market. Data from Zoopla of frequency and journey time to suggests that the current average Housing Trends London are a further strength to freehold value of home in Hatfield Hatfield but the location of the train is £378,829. This compares with Hatfield needs to identify land for station is distant from the business £511,577 for St Albans, £442,322 3,039 new homes between 2011 park. for Hertford and £670,004 for 5 and 2031 in order to meet its Welwyn Garden City. The average Retail: Hatfield has a number of objectively assessed housing need. house price in England is £290,437, retail centres each with a specific Sites for potential development the average house price in London offer. At present there is a low to have been identified within the is c. £440,000 (Nationwide). existing urban area as well as two mid retail offer in the town centre large strategic sites on greenbelt which is in contrast to Welwyn Demographic data shows that land. Housing growth will bring Garden City - there are a general Hatfield is primarily a rental considerable infrastructure lack of national retailers in the town location; accommodating students requirements across transport, centre however Peacocks opening who share with other students in education, health, sports and other (summer 2015) could indicate some private accommodation or young services, anticipated to amount to change. In the town centre there is professionals hypothetically not £200m for the Borough as a whole. little evening or night time economy able to afford rents or freehold with limited leisure occupiers. properties in London but not willing Hatfield generally has a higher Oldings Corner provides an out of to commit to a geographic location private and social rented profile town retail offer and the Galleria elsewhere. and fewer residents own homes is a regional discount shopping in comparison to Borough and centre with a leisure offer in the regional averages. This reflects in form of a cinema and a number of particular the New Town legacy and restaurants. the large student population. There is a need for 245 affordable homes The data shows that Hatfield town (social rented) per year in Hatfield, centre is retaining 3.71% of its in particular one and two bedroom market share (comparison goods), properties. this equates to £88,356,623 per annum, based on a total shopper population of 45,322. Recent and Planned Projects Town Wide Spatial Analysis Road Network: Some road networks in the town are Following the termination of Connectivity: Hatfield benefits struggling to cope with current the town centre redevelopment from good connections to levels of traffic demand during partnership, which saw limited strategic transport networks, peak periods and extensive new development, the Borough being located on the A1(M), on-street parking in residential Council has committed an A1000 and A414 corridors and areas is evident. This results from initial £2.65m to create a better the Great Northern Railway line. the growth in car ownership, environment for shoppers However, within the town there are University of Hertfordshire student business and residents, focused problems associated with poor trips and the varying levels of off- on public realm and shop front connectivity across the town and street / on-plot parking capacity. improvements. limited accessibility for modes other than the car. In particular, Gateways: Key arrival points/ Regeneration around Hatfield the A1(M) creates significant gateways to Hatfield are from train station has recently been east - west severance, essentially the A1(M) junctions at the completed, creating a strong dividing the town. north and south of the town 6 new arrival space to the town. and Hatfield Train Station. Regeneration initiatives have also Public Transport: There is good The station arrival point faces been progressing in Old Hatfield. rail connectivity between Hatfield towards the impressive gates to and surrounding areas including Hatfield House as well as Old The expanded LEP Growth Deal southwards to London Kings Hatfield itself. The main issue agreed in 2015 will support Cross and Moorgate stations. with this station gateway is that the regeneration of Hatfield by Typical journey times to London the legibility of routes towards investing £6m in projects in the range from 22mins to 45mins with the town centre is in need of town in the 2019-21 period. up to 8 services per hour. There is improvement. a reasonable bus network; there The University of Hertfordshire are however some issues with Broad Character Areas: 2020 Estates Vision sets out peak period journey time reliability The differing housing types a detailed framework within linked to traffic, congestion, and development periods are which future proposals are to be limited road space and the lack of highly distinct. The New Town brought forward, with significant bus priority facilities. is recognised for its post war on campus accommodation and development with low density facilities to be completed. Pedestrian and Cycle Links: semi-detached and terrace Current facilities for pedestrians housing. The southern parts of and cyclists are highly variable the town were built later (post across the town. Two major 1960). The character of Hatfield recreational walking and cycling in the west (west of the A1(M)) trails cross the town; The Alban is dominated by the Hatfield Way and The Great North Way. Business Park, the Galleria and However there is a lack of the University of Hertfordshire. consistency and continuity in Inter-war housing is evident at cycle provision within and across the adjacent Garden Village, with the town. more modern housing in and around the business park. Town Centre and Local Centres: Town Centre Spatial Analysis Town Centre Interventions and Hatfield’s polycentric New Town Opportunities: A significant layout means that there are a Routes and Movement: The town number of interventions are number of local centres which centre is currently enclosed and planned, underway or completed in play an important role in providing dominated by roads creating a the town centre, in summary these convenience shopping and local barrier to pedestrian movement. are: services, serving day to day needs The Queensway to the south of are provided close