The Council is seeking to appoint an experienced regeneration developer with the resources, vision and ambition to deliver an innovative scheme on the 2,1 ha (5.2 acre) site in the town centre of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. The scheme forms an integral part of the Council’s wider transformation vision to capitalise on Bishop’s Stortford attractive town centre and growing population. The site has capacity to accommodate a 60,000 sq ft Arts and Entertainment Centre, more than 100 residential units, 20,000 sq ft of commercial space and car parking.

1) Support and develop the town centre economy by delivering a new destination with a mix of uses at Old River Lane including an arts and entertainment centre, residential, retail and leisure uses that drives transformational change in Bishop’s Stortford and brings added vitality to the town;

2) Achieve a high quality, innovative and future proofed residential and cultural led mixed-use scheme that achieves excellence in urban design and public art and creating a long term positive legacy for Bishop’s Stortford,

3) Deliver an arts and entertainment centre of iconic design which promotes town centre cultural activities, including a cinema, library, café and workspace, creating activity throughout the day and evening, which acts as an anchor to the scheme,

4) Deliver high quality public realm, including a new town square,

5) Deliver a scheme which prioritises people rather than cars by confining vehicles to the peripheral areas of the scheme and by delivering a new Multi Storey Car Park at Northgate End,

6) Improve the connectivity to Castle Park, opening up attractive routes to this high quality green space on the edge of the town centre,

7) Create a scheme which successfully integrates with its surrounds and is in keeping with the town's existing scale and massing, reflecting the varied roofscape, fabric and features of the town, to respect the conservation area status and nearby historic buildings,

8) Deliver transformational change as quickly as reasonably possible and enable the Council to control and steer the nature of the development through the appropriate governance structure,

9) Deliver a financially sustainable scheme that provides value for money for the Council.