North Herts District Council’s Planning Committee gave the ‘green light’ on March 26, for the Street Scene proposals - the first stage of the Heritage Foundation’s Town Centre Re-development plans.

After the meeting, Stuart Kenny, the Foundation’s Director General said: “ I am pleased we secured planning permission for our Street Scene works, albeit with a raft of conditions, some curious, some disappointing in that they appear to reflect a lack of understanding of documentation we have submitted over a lengthy period of time.

“ If these conditions can be discharged in a manner which retains the integrity of the scheme and demonstrably helps create a much improved physical environment for town centre businesses, then the scheme can be finalised, ready for implementation.”

The second phase of the development - The Wynd - will not be determined by the District Council’s Planning Committee until late June. The design work for the third phase - The Arena - is progressing.