Plans for a major town centre redevelopment were given the green light last night (Monday).

Members of the planning control committee at North Herts District Council approved an application to build 47 flats and two shops in Letchworth town centre.

The proposal involves the conversion of Commerce House and the demolition of two vacant shops in Leys Avenue to make way for a four-storey building looking out onto Leys Square, as well as the installation of a new front to the Garden Square Shopping Centre.

Praxis Real Estate Management Ltd put forward the application on behalf of the land’s leaseholders Rodez Ltd, and the development had been recommended for approval by council officers prior to the NHDC meeting at Gernon Road in Letchworth.

Also approved were plans to build 15 houses on agricultural land adjacent to Walkdens on Ashwell Street in Ashwell. The development would be made up of four one-bedroom flats, eight two-bedroom houses and three three-bedroom houses, as well as a new road between 8 and 9 Walkdens.

Ashwell Parish Council had objected to the proposal on grounds that prime agricultural land would be lost, the insufficient availability of infrastructure in the town and potential drainage problems for residents.

Another application granted by the planning control committee was the building of three industrial units on the site of the former Letchworth Power Station on Works Road, including 119 car parking spaces.