Sorted: Royal Mail offices can relocate
05 September 2007
EDITORIAL - whtimes@archant.co.uk
A MULTI-MILLION pound bid to regenerate a town centre was boosted after council officials approved the relocation of postal sorting offices.
But Royal Mail has denied it plans to move from its current base in Hatfield Town Centre - despite being a joint applicant for the new premises.
The unanimous approval to the plans for a new site on Beaconsfield Road was given by Welwyn Hatfield Council's planning committee on Thursday.
Existing industrial buildings will be demolished at the new site to house the sorting offices.
A public inquiry into the proposed regeneration project in Hatfield started this week and this latest move will free up a substantial section of the town centre.
Regeneration specialists St Modwen, which is undertaking the scheme in partnership with the council, was delighted with the agreement.
A spokesman said: "The agreement with Royal Mail is a major part of the site assembly and one that we have been working on for sometime.
"All the objections to the compulsory purchase order process deserve and have received the most careful attention but this was one, because of its size and the nature of the user, which had to be resolved.
"It seems that the first day of demolition may draw some crowds.
"We are looking forward to the prospect of getting stuck into the redevelopment and delivering a new town centre at the earliest opportunity."
However, a Royal Mail spokesman claimed that despite the council's approval of the proposal, there are "no plans to move at this time".
He said: "We are aware of proposals for redeveloping the town centre area and we would be looking to move eventually.
"If that moves forward we would be happy to work with the local authority on a possible relocation and we are aware of alternative sites which are being identified.