BRIEFING Revealed: Latest tenants signed for Lea Wharf

All the main commercial units in Hertford’s Lea Wharf development have now been let, while sales of the apartments in the county town’s flagship riverside project continue to sell well.

Axis can now reveal more of the businesses that have signed up to move into the development built by local developer Chase New Homes on the site of the former Bircherley Green shopping centre on land between Railway Street and the River Lea.

We have already reported that one of the riverside restaurant spaces had been taken by Vault, a wine bar and restaurant that has a branch in Shenfield, Essex.

We can now reveal that the second main unit has been taken by Loungers, a growing chain that has popular all-day café-bars around the country including Postino Lounge in Welwyn Garden City, Granello Lounge in Hitchin and

Cassio Lounge in Watford. Negotiations are currently underway for one final riverside unit next to Loungers – this also involves a hospitality business, one with local connections.

The biggest retail name coming to the development is Boots, as has already been reported, and this new store will sit opposite the new GP surgery that will be moving from the historic but cramped premises at Wallace House in St Andrew Street to create a new state-of-theart medical centre for Hertford. Axis can also reveal that Card Factory, which used to have a unit in Bircherley Green, has also taken space in Lea Wharf.

Two of the units are being combined to house Loco gym, which is owned by a local family. One other unit looks like being let for office use, but is still waiting to be signed off.

The only other unit not yet con- firmed is a small one next to the entrance to the bus station which may be either a café or nail bar. Finally, the car park is due to reopen in January with 120 spaces available for the public.

Appeal underway over retirement homes plan for edge of Lea Wharf site

An appeal is taking place into Churchill Retirement Living’s proposal for a retirement development on the corner of Railway Street and Bircherley Street in Hertford. The land close to the bus station was originally earmarked, as part of the Lea Wharf development, for an 86-bedroom hotel building for

Premier Inn but the hotel chain’s owners Whitbread withdrew from the scheme after the pandemic. Churchill Retirement Living want to build 36 one and two bedroom retirement apartments on the site and submitted a planning application to East Herts Council in November of last year.

East Herts failed to determine it in the target of 13 weeks so Churchill has exercised its right to appeal to the Secretary of State to determine the application. East Herts Council says it would have refused the application and is contesting the appeal on grounds including design and a lack of affordable housing.

Axis magazine had an exclusive tour of the new show apartment at Lea Wharf last month. Turn to page 13 to see inside and find out more.

Refurbished and extended Hartham Leisure Centre set to launch next month

The newly refurbished Hartham Leisure Centre in Hertford will open next month with owner East Herts Council and operator Everyone Active inviting the public to attend the occasion. The centre will host an open day which it says will be packed with free and fun-filled activities for all the family on Saturday 9th September.

The £9million programme of refurbishments has seen improvements to the pool and changing areas along with the building of a new two-storey extension housing a state-of-the-art gym overlooking Hartham Common with a wide range of equipment. There are also two spacious modern studios for more group exercise classes and community activities; plus a soft play area and a café.

In addition to the new and improved facilities, energy improvements include solar panels on the roof, an air source heat pump, removing the need for additional gas, and a green feature wall served by rainwater from the roof allowing the centre to blend into the green open space of the common. Cllr Sarah Hopewood, executive member for wellbeing at East Herts, said: “I am really pleased that the leisure centre is nearing completion. As a member for many years myself, I feel that the inclusion of a soft play area and café will add real value, making it an inviting centre for wellbeing across generations.”