Hemel Hempstead is a fairly large town in Hertfordshire close to where I live which was developed as a new town after WWII and has a population of 81,143.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemel_Hempstead,_England

The tallest building in the town is a 19 storey tower which was previously occupied by Kodak as their UK headquarters but they have recently moved out.

http://www.stockphotography.co.uk/Upload/Stock/Previews/18666.jpg

Dacorum council has set out a vision for Hemel Hempstead

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/about/HemelHempsteadVision/hhvVision.aspx

And some of the new developments are underway including the new Riverside Shopping Development at the end of the current high street. Its flagship store is Debenhams and there will be a new hotel. It partitally opened recently with the shops open but is still being constructed.

http://www.hemelhempsteadtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=52854

http://www.hemelhempsteadtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/GetImage.aspx?ImageID=38118

http://www.hemelhempsteadtoday.co.uk/mk4custompages/GetImage.aspx?ImageID=38543

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/about/HemelHempsteadVision/smriverside.JPG

http://www.andrews-group.co.uk/images/Modelview3_000.JPG

http://www.andrews-group.co.uk/images/Riverside20-05-2004.JPG

http://www.andrews-group.co.uk/images/29_6_5_d_.jpg

Further to this there is a new block of apartments which look very attractive beside this development and many other apartment blocks springing up around the CBD.

The council also aims to build a Performance and Conference Venue.

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/about/HemelHempsteadVision/smnewartsvenue.JPG

And a civic zone providing a single building from which public bodies like Dacorum Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council, the Police and College could deliver services to the public.

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/about/HemelHempsteadVision/smciviczoneinternal.JPG

Further updates on projects can be found on the page below:

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/about/HemelHempsteadVision/hhvUpdate.aspx#riverside

Looks good....I like the Performance and Conference Venue...hope it is built.

Ive ben there, only once, but that building was awful, whats gonna replace it looks pretty decent

never liked the name 'Hemel'

Nice projects

Is the Kodak factory gone as well? What are they going to do with it? I used to deliver there years ago.

Ive ben there, only once, but that building was awful, whats gonna replace it looks pretty decent

The 19 storey block isn't being replaced and is to the left of the new riverside shopping extension. The Kodak sign is however being taken down from the top of the building.

I like that first pic very much.
It's only 30 minutes drive from where I live. May check it out with camera in the next few days. Thanks for the thread.

The 19 storey block isn't being replaced and is to the left of the new riverside shopping extension. The Kodak sign is however being taken down from the top of the building.

I wish people would have the guts to gets these things demolished. Camden council had this great vision talking about urban design issues and pointing out the ugly buildings between the British Museum, Centre Point and Neal Street triangle and what do they go and do? Let Travel Lodge do an internal refit and occupy one of the hideous tower blocks that ruin the area

The tower in Hemel hempstead has quite an impact on the skyline and although it doesn't look great in the first pic, it doesn't look too bad in real life. Of course replacing it would be better but as long as it was of a similar height or higher.

Very nice. Been there once or twice, and drove through it loadsa times but haven't stop for a good look.
Just hope its something special and not just the regular modern glass and steel framework. Perhaps a straw bale house :D

Hemel Hamstead is rancid. I live in North West London so spend much time in Hertfordshire I'd much rather go St Albans or Watford.

:lol: I have family in Hemel, and so visit it a couple of times a year. I must say the town needs quite a bit of work. But these projects may turn it around.

I was really surprised to see this here at SSC. Amazing stuff. Actually, I'll be in Hemel next month. I tríed to book into the new hotel shown in the 2nd picture, but it won't be open to Feburary. Will probably book into it sometime next year though.

http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/about/HemelHempsteadVision/smriverside.JPG

Dont like this... very 'mall' like, no character at all, very plain and windowless upper parts and i dont think it is pushing in the direction that i think we should be moving. Dont be fooled by the glossy render, this looks quite mediocre....

Sorry for being so stinging.

The other projects look good though, this just caught my eye because it 'looks' good but it lacks an awful lot.

my mate dan lives there. aside from that i know nowt about hemel, so this is interesting.