Publication Date: 19-12-2025 09:00
Detailed plans approved for new homes on former site of Bishop’s Stortford High School
Bellway has received detailed planning permission to build 208 new homes on the former site of Bishop’s Stortford High School.
The housebuilder’s reserved matters application to deliver the new properties at Scholars Walk, on a 17-acre site off London Road, was approved by East Herts Council on Thursday 11 December.
The new development will feature 125 homes for private sale – a mix of two, three, four and five-bedroom houses – and 83 affordable homes comprising one and two-bedroom apartments and two and three-bedroom houses.
As part of the project, Bellway will invest more than £4.5 million in local infrastructure and services. The land purchase has also enabled Bishop’s Stortford High School to move from the site into a new purpose-built premises at St James’ Park in the town.
Demolition has been underway at the London Road site under outline planning permission granted in April 2025, and with detailed approval now in place, construction of the homes is due to start in early 2026.
Greg Allsop, Sales Director for Bellway North London, said: “We are now looking forward to pressing ahead with our plans to regenerate the former site of the Bishop’s Stortford High School, where we will be building a collection of energy-efficient new homes, which will feature electric vehicle charging points and solar PV panels to help reduce carbon emissions.
“There is strong demand for new housing in Bishop’s Stortford and this development will deliver homes for the private market as well as 40 per cent affordable housing, available through low-cost rent and shared ownership, to give local people who perhaps cannot afford to buy the chance to secure a new place in the area.
“We have worked closely with East Herts Council to ensure that the final design reflects the needs of the local community. This engagement and the fact that we are currently building 498 new homes across town at St James’ Park is testament of our ongoing commitment to Bishop’s Stortford.”
As part of the planning agreement for the development, Bellway North London is to contribute £1.9 million for primary education, £1.8 million for secondary education, £150,000 for healthcare, £320,000 for sustainable transport, and £180,000 for sport and recreation. There will also be contributions of £43,000 towards allotments and £33,000 for libraries.
Bellway is also planning to exceed requirements to enhance biodiversity on the site, with the plans set to increase on-site habitat units by more than 12 per cent, and hedgerows by 20 per cent.
Greg said: “Scholars Walk will be a sustainable and attractive neighbourhood which will be an environmentally friendly place to live. Existing trees and hedgerows will be retained wherever possible and new native hedgerow and species-rich wildflower grassland will be planted to create new habitats for wildlife.
“We hope to release an initial selection of plots at the development for sale next summer, and the build schedule should see us completing the first homes ready for their new owners to move into in early 2027.”
For more information about the new homes at Scholars Walk, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/north-london/scholars-walk.
