Planning a new mixed-use neighbourhood in the popular area of Bishop’s Stortford

St James Park Urban Extension

Countryside Properties, now Vistry Group, set out to create a new mixed-use neighbourhood in the historic Hertfordshire market town of Bishop’s Stafford. Our team was brought on board to provide masterplanning and assist with public engagement efforts.

In collaboration with Vistry Group and the consultant team and through a lengthy public engagement process, we carefully crafted the neighbourhood layout to overcome significant challenges in terms of landscape visual sensitivity, character, and transport connectivity to create a new gateway on the southern edge of Bishop’s Stortford. Following the site promotion stage and hybrid application approval, and our team has continued to support the Vistry Group in its master developer role, discharging conditions, preparing land sale plans, and managing the phasing and marketing of land parcels.

The St James Park urban extension will provide extensive new facilities for sports and recreation as well as new primary and secondary schools, a new village centre with local shops, and an employment park. Surrounded by countryside, with speedy commuter links to London, the site provides an attractive network of open spaces that support biodiversity. It also delivers a new network of foot and cycle ways, connecting to the town-wide routes beyond.