The sale of the site will also enable a £12m investment by the college in new state-of-the-art sporting and teaching facilities.
The new Cala development will include a range of one and two bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom houses. 15% of homes will be affordable to meet local housing need, including those offered for shared equity and rent. Homes have been designed around informal green open space and high quality landscaping at the development will include a children’s play area.
The new sports facilities will be available to both college students and the wider community. The existing outdated sports hall and squash court building will be demolished and replaced with a modern multi-purpose sports hall, gym and changing areas, a new 3G football pitch and sports science teaching facilities.
Neil Farnsworth, senior planning manager at Cala Homes North Home Counties, said: “We are delighted to have received a resolution to grant planning permission from the council and are now looking forward to starting work on a site that will not only provide much-needed homes in the local area but will also enable state-of-the art college facilities that will benefit the whole community.
“This development represents an ongoing investment by Cala in the local area, and comes on the back of a number of successful sites including our current Comice Meadows development in Pirton and recently completed sites in Hitchin and Rabley Heath. We look forward to working through the final planning details and hope to start on site in late spring 2021.”
Kit Davies, Principle at North Hertfordshire College said: “This development will put North Hertfordshire College at the forefront of sports science teaching. Our students will now have access to industry-standard facilities to give them the best preparation for their future careers.
“It is also great news for the local community as this investment will boost the availability of sport and wellbeing activities for all Hitchin residents.”
The new development at North Herts College is expected to appeal to a wide range of purchasers including first time buyers, growing families and downsizers. Ideal for commuters, the development is just a short drive from junction eight of the A1(M) providing a direct route to Cambridge, London and the M25.
By rail, there are fast and frequent trains from Hitchin Station into London Kings Cross taking only 27 minutes.
Families will be in the catchment area for a number of OFSTED-rated ‘outstanding’ and ‘good’ schools. For primary education, Highbury Infant School, Samuel Lucas Junior and Mixed Infant School and Oughton Primary and Nursery School are all nearby, while Hitchin Boy’s School, Hitchin Girl’s School and The Priory School all offer a high-level of secondary education.
