Publication Date: 27-05-2025 09:00
Bellway buys former Bishop’s Stortford High School site after outline permission for up to 223 homes is issued
Bellway has acquired the former Bishop’s Stortford High School campus site where it plans to build up to 223 new homes.
The housebuilder purchased the 17-acre site off London Road after outline planning permission to develop the land was granted by East Hertfordshire District Council.
It is now finalising its detailed plans for the development, with a reserved matters application due to be submitted to the council in May.
Outline plans for the site were submitted by the school in January 2020, with councillors voting to approve the scheme in November that year, subject to the planning agreement which has now been signed.
The London Road site has been vacant since The Bishop’s Stortford High School moved to its new campus at St James’ Park in September last year.
Alan Joiner, Partner at Walter Cooper Surveyors, acting on behalf of the sellers, said: “The sale to Bellway concludes an ambitious project conceptualised some years ago by both the Bishop's Stortford High School Governors and Hertfordshire County Council, to replace ageing facilities at its London Road site with new purpose-built premises at Beaumont Avenue.
“Working in partnership with Bellway to resolve a number of complex technical and planning issues has resulted in a sale of the surplus London Road premises, securing critical funding towards the new premises which will further enhance the education offering of this Ofsted-rated Outstanding and well-regarded school.”
Ali Maruf, Managing Director of Bellway North London, said: “This is a positive outcome for both the school and the town, unlocking funds from the sale of the land for The Bishop’s Stortford High School and Hertfordshire County Council and securing the delivery of new housing which will meet the needs of local people.
“The site offers a unique opportunity to create an attractive new neighbourhood for Bishop’s Stortford on previously developed land. We will design a thoughtfully planned and integrated development with high-quality, energy-efficient homes.
“The properties will range from one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom detached houses, with 40 per cent of properties being provided as affordable housing for low-cost rent or shared ownership.
“With outline consent for the site in place, we can now move to the next stage of this exciting project and look forward to submitting a detailed planning application to the council in May.”
Bellway’s detailed plans include 125 houses for private sale, featuring a range of two, three, four and five-bedroom properties. The 83 affordable homes will comprise a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom houses.
For more information about Bellway developments in Bishop’s Stortford and the wider region, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/north-london.
