WELWYN Hatfield Borough Councillors refused an application from Tesco development partners Spenhill for development to the Broadwater Road site in Welwyn Garden City at a Planning Control Committee meeting, held on 11 January 2012.

Councillors supported of council Officer's recommendation to refuse the application. Overall, the scheme was deemed to be inappropriate for the site, and that it would have an adverse effect on the vitality and viability of Welwyn Garden City. The application for the Broadwater Road site included a Tesco superstore, alongside a variety of other developments including a leisure centre building, heritage centre, energy centre, civic square and housing. The officer recommendation to refuse the application was based upon a number of issues, including: its impact upon the vitality and viability of the town centre; its design; the impact on the road network around the town; levels of car parking.

Two other applications relating to the site; listed building consent for the works to the listed buildings and planning consent for an improved bridge between the site and the railway station in the Howard Centre were both approved by councillors at the same meeting.