Tell us what you think about the future of Water Lane Hall
Please note: this survey is only about the future of Water Lane Hall. Comments about the Old River Lane planning application cannot be considered here and should be submitted through the council’s planning portal.
Background
Water Lane Hall is the building opposite Waitrose in Bishop’s Stortford town centre, between Water Lane and Old River Lane.
East Herts Council owns the building. It was originally bought so it could be demolished as part of a wider regeneration plan for the area.
In 2023, after a change in political leadership at the council, Water Lane Hall was removed from the development plans.
Current use and condition
The hall was previously leased to the United Reformed Church, which has since moved all its activities to its refurbished premises opposite. Water Lane Hall has remained closed since September 2025.
Last year, the council carried out a full structural survey of the building. You can read the full report here.
The survey found that at least £1.6 million would be needed to repair and restore the hall. While the council has set aside some funding for essential maintenance of Water Lane Hall, this falls considerably short of the amount required.
After receiving this report, the council invited local groups to come forward with ideas for how they might run the building.
The options
The council is now considering several possible options for the future of Water Lane Hall:
Transfer ownership to the Friends of Water Lane Hall to reopen as a community and culture venue
Sell the building commercially on the open market with funds reinvested into the town
Work with local businesses to create more space for retail
Demolish the hall to make way for other uses
We want to hear from as many Bishop’s Stortford residents as possible before a final decision is made.
Please read the information about each option and complete the survey.
Option 1 – Transfer ownership to the Friends of Water Lane Hall to reopen as a community and culture venue
The Friends of Water Lane Hall have submitted a business plan to the council, which you can read an overview of here.
Their proposal is to apply for grants – for example, from the National Lottery – to refurbish the building. Once restored, they plan to hire it out for a mix of community and cultural activities, including live performance. The group believes it can cover its running costs through hire fees, hospitality income and other revenue streams.
This would involve the council transferring ownership to the group for a small sum. Legally, if the council sells a property for less than its market value, we must show that doing so will deliver clear social and community benefits.
This option is dependent on viability of the group’s business plan and any transfer to the group would rely on it fulfilling basic financial and operational sustainability criteria. Unlike options 2 and 3, it would not generate money from a sale to reinvest into the town centre.
The main benefit is that the hall could remain as it is and continue operating as a community space for arts and culture. However, there are some risks. The group may not be able to raise enough money to reopen the hall, which could result in the council having to take back ownership, facing higher repair costs and the same questions about the building’s future.
There is also a risk that the hall may not be financially sustainable even if it does reopen. If that happens, the group could face financial difficulties.
Option 2 – Sell the building commercially on the open market with funds reinvested into the town
Although the building itself has little value in its current condition, the land is valuable because it is in a good town centre location.
Informal feedback from property agents suggests there would be interest from the market. However, this would most likely lead to the hall being demolished and replaced with a mixed use or fully residential development. Any change of use would still need planning permission, which would be decided by the council’s planning committee.
The benefit of this option is that any money received from the sale could be put towards the proposed new public square on Old River Lane, including improving the design of the planned pavilion so it becomes a more practical and useful space. Alternatively, it could be reinvested into other town centre improvements.
The risks of this approach are that the council has no control over the future of the site (except through its role as the planning authority, as mentioned above).
Option 3 - Work with local businesses to create more space for retail
The council could work with local businesses to redevelop the site, creating additional space for retail and commercial use. Given its good town centre location, opposite the Old River Lane development, it is likely there would be interest and demand for this type of use.
The council would need to apply for planning permission together with any commercial partner to show how the space would be used and what that would look like.
The benefits of this approach are that the space continues to be part of the town centre offer. In addition, any money received from the sale could be put towards the proposed new public square on Old River Lane, including improving the design of the planned pavilion so it becomes a more practical and useful space. Alternatively, it could be reinvested into other town centre improvements.
The risks of this approach are that it may take some time to develop any plans.
Option 4 - Demolish to make way for other uses
Given the building’s poor condition and the level of investment required to restore it, one option is to demolish Water Lane Hall and use the site for other purposes.
Any new use would still require planning permission.
If you have ideas about how the site could be used in the future, please share them through the survey.
