Founded in 1920, Welwyn Garden City was the second garden city experiment of Sir Ebenezer Howard. Mr Howard inspired the development of new ‘planned towns’ that would combine the aesthetic and practical benefits of urban and rural life. As the decades have elapsed, Welwyn Garden City has become a focal point for commerce in Hertfordshire. 

 

If you are seeking a new base for your business on the fringes of the capital, read on to discover whether Welwyn Garden City ticks the right boxes for you.

 

One of the UK’s first ‘new towns’
As part of the New Towns Act 1946, Welwyn Garden City was granted ‘New Town’ status. With the town’s land in public ownership, the act meant that the town’s assets would be transferred to the new Welwyn Garden City Development Corporation, which is known as the Commission for New Towns today.

 

2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the town and with plenty of celebrations scheduled, it promises to be a momentous moment for Welwyn Garden City – and a great time for growing businesses to be a part of its history.

Situated on the doorstep of Greater London

If you are a business owner seeking the perfect balance of value commercial rates and easy trading and transport links with London, Welwyn Garden City could be a good strategic base for you in the south-east. Many household brands feel the same, with leading names such as Tesco, Ocado, Xerox and PayPoint opting to base their headquarters here.

 

Logistically speaking, the town is also very well-served by road, rail and air. The A1(M) and the A414 skirt the town to the west and south respectively. Meanwhile Welwyn Garden City’s mainline railway station is on the Great Northern Line, providing direct routes to Central London via King’s Cross and Moorgate, as well as the Midlands and the North. The town is also equidistant to both London Luton and London Stansted airports.

A revitalised BID plan in place for the coming years

The town also benefits from the strategy and innovation provided by its own Business Improvement District (BID), which covers 2017-2022 thus far. The ambitious plan is designed to modernise the town centre and build upon the “unique Garden City principles and characteristics to make it a great place to visit, work and live”.

 

The BID plan for the town is supported wholeheartedly by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, whose vision is to kickstart “serious dialogue” with businesses in the town to help “promote a stronger trading environment” for all.

Browse our available commercial property to let in Welwyn Garden City

If you like the sound of situating your business in close proximity to the A1(M) and London’s M25 and North Circular, Welwyn Garden City could offer a value alternative on the fringes of Greater London. We own and manage a growing number of office and industrial units in England’s second garden city, including a cluster in the Swallowfields Industrial Estate to the east of the town centre.

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