Demolition of a shopping parade in Hatfield is almost complete as the area is redeveloped.

The shops on the northern edge of Salisbury Square have been bulldozed to make way for the latest phase of Old Hatfield's regeneration.

After work finally started late last month to demolish the dated 1970s building, you can now see clearly The Great Northern pub and the townhouses in Arm and Sword Lane from the historic square.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The view of The Great Northern pub from Salisbury Square now the shopping parade in Old Hatfield has been demolished.The view of The Great Northern pub from Salisbury Square now the shopping parade in Old Hatfield has been demolished. (Image: Alan Davies)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The demolition of the shopping parade in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured January 31, 2024. The demolition of the shopping parade in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured January 31, 2024. (Image: Alan Davies)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The shops reduced to rubble in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured February 10, 2024.The shops reduced to rubble in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured February 10, 2024. (Image: Alan Davies)

The row of shops was once home to a Costcutter convenience store, a barbers, a launderette, and a couple of takeaways — an Indian and a Chinese.

The flats above the shops have now completely gone, and what was once the former Ming Garden takeaway and Royal Tandoori Indian have been flattened.

All that remains is the rubble and mangled metal strewn across the pathway behind the fenced off area in Salisbury Square.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The shopping parade being demolished in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured January 27, 2024.The shopping parade being demolished in Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured January 27, 2024. (Image: Alan Davies)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: All that remains of the shopping parade in Salisbury Square after its demolition. Pictured February 10.All that remains of the shopping parade in Salisbury Square after its demolition. Pictured February 10. (Image: Alan Davies)

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Gascoyne Estates plans to replace the dated 1970s shopping parade and part of the adjoining Salisbury Square car park with a terrace of five new houses in a similar style to the opposite Arm and Sword Lane properties to complete the street scene.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: How the new look Salisbury Square will look. How the new look Salisbury Square will look. (Image: Gascoyne Estates / Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council)

Immediately to the south of these new houses will be a number of car parking spaces.

The redevelopment will also see a new block built in Salisbury Square to replace the 1970s parade. This will include three apartments, along with office and flexible retail/hospitality space. 

The Gascoyne Cecil website states: "Salisbury Square has remained the elusive missing piece of the Old Hatfield vision. 

"An unsuccessful public space, the square lacks activity, which is partly due to the poor design of its public areas and buildings which surround them.

"In 2013, a redevelopment scheme for the square was approved. Unfortunately the scheme did not ultimately prove to be viable.

"Informed by public exhibitions and workshops, which took place in 2019, a revised scheme was submitted to planning in 2021.

"December 2022 saw the unanimous approval for the demolition of the existing 1970s shopping parade, and the creation of a new mixed use retail and commercial development, new homes, parking and enhanced public realm.

"The residential development will feature apartments above, and include a new terrace of homes to complete and mirror existing townhouses on Arm and Sword Lane. 

"Three apartments will feature above the retail and commercial building."

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The view from Salisbury Square towards Arm and Sword Lane in Old Hatfield, pictured February 10, 2024.The view from Salisbury Square towards Arm and Sword Lane in Old Hatfield, pictured February 10, 2024. (Image: Alan Davies)

Welwyn Hatfield Times: The view looking south from the demolished shops across Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured February 10.The view looking south from the demolished shops across Salisbury Square, Old Hatfield, pictured February 10. (Image: Alan Davies)

The smaller raised bed, directly opposite the already refurbished York House, will be removed as part of the redevelopment to make way for new shared use space.

This area will be designed to encourage multiple uses, such as markets and events whilst remaining suitable to accommodate vehicle parking.

The overall scheme will complete the regeneration of Old Hatfield as planned in the Old Hatfield Charrette.

Hatfield train station has already been redeveloped, along with building a multi-storey new car park, and previously derelict land has been transformed into Arm and Sword Lane and Dunham Mews.

York House in Salisbury Square has also been completely renovated.