In a carefully worded statement, Mr Shapps states that one of his main concerns about the developments was that any proposal shouldn't exceed "the maximum height of the existing offices and factory already on that site".​​

He added: "I’ve always believed in the unique ethos that makes Welwyn Garden City special. From the original plans by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the 1920s to the development of The Howard Centre which opened its doors in 1990, changes to our landscape have always needed to be very carefully considered.

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"One of the key elements to the success of Welwyn Garden City must be the quality of design. It is not enough to know that a building is planned for a particular location, rather we also need to know that its quality will live up to the Garden City principles of beautifully and imaginatively designed homes with integrated accessible transport along with attractive public spaces. "The housing density is becoming too high which will cause overcrowding and will not guarantee a high quality development.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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"Although as the local MP I do not have a formal role in planning matters on the council – only councillors get to decide and they can be challenged by the independent Planning Inspector – I do not think that any application should be approved on Broadwater Road which exceeds the maximum height of the existing offices and factory already on that site.

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"Naturally I appreciate that councillors have a difficult job to do and so I encourage them to focus on the density/overcrowding issues, quality of build, on ensuring that the height does not exceed the current industrial properties on the site and that they should strive to maintain a strong garden city ethos in deciding any application."