Plans to build three new industrial units in Letchworth have been recommended for approval by council officers.

North Herts Council's planning committee will meet on Thursday (August 21) to decide whether to grant planning permission for the plans at Starwood House on Avenue One in Letchworth's industrial estate.

The applicant, Letchworth Investment LLP, wants to demolish the existing building – previously used by Tesco as a data centre and research and development facility – and replace it with three units across two new buildings.

The new buildings, if approved, would have permission for flexible use classes – they could be used, for example, for research and development, for general industrial purposes, or for storage or distribution. 

They would be accompanied by 106 vehicle parking spaces, including twenty per cent with electric vehicle charging, and 72 parking spaces, as well as dedicated HGV docking areas for each unit.

The buildings, accessed from Avenue One, would be 105m by 54m and 69m by 71.5m. An existing vehicle junction onto Avenue One would be narrowed, and a new pedestrian access would be added at the site's northeast corner, near Sainsbury's.

Council officers said in their report: "The site and the current buildings/layout were bespoke built in the 1980s for the previous occupier, such that the building is not capable of re-use as is for modern industrial purposes and potential future occupiers.

"Because of this, if the site were to remain as it is, it would continue to make no contribution to the local economy.

"The site is also vacant, so the proposal would constitute the re-use of previously developed land for a similar use, which is inherently sustainable.

"Whilst the buildings will be more prominent and visible than the existing buildings, this is an employment area with a utilitarian character which the proposed buildings will reflect."

A "technical" objection to the application has been lodged by the flood authority, but the council's report said a suggested test is "not necessary" and said the plans "will not result in an unacceptable flood risk or have adverse drainage impacts".

The site, which is within the Letchworth Employment Area, is within flood zone one – meaning "some areas of the site" are "susceptible to low and medium risk surface water flooding".

Earlier this year, the applicant asked the council for prior approval to demolish the existing building, but this was not deemed necessary by the council.