The multi-million pound deal will bring about the sensitive refurbishment of Wheat Quarter’s listed production hall, listed silos and art centre.

Hill will also deliver the new Louis de Soissons Building and Bridge Community Building as part of a comprehensive single package deal.

Plans have also been lodged to build up to 1,200 homes around the factory in buildings rising to 10 storeys, which is due to be considered by the local planning commitee.

The homes will be a mixture of rented sector, residential care, community and commercial hub dwellings.

Last year housing provider Metropolitan signed a deal to deliver affordable housing on a separate site to the south of the factory. This is being delivered by contractor Higgins under a £44m contract to design and build over 200 mixed-tenure homes.

Wheat Quarter Project Director, John West, said “Having created the platform for Metropolitan to be on site today delivering affordable housing on the south site, we hope to receive planning approval for our improved scheme on the north site in the coming months and start work later this year for the final phase of this landmark site.

“We have all endured a tough three years through Brexit and Covid. However after a lot of hard work, we are excited to be back to deliver this exceptional scheme with Hill as our delivery partners.”

A planning application has also been submitted for the north site that would see more than 1,200 flats built up to 10 storeys high.

Andy Hill, Chief Executive at Hill, said: “We are looking forward to working with Wheat Quarter Ltd to carefully restore and refurbish the iconic listed Production Hall, Silos and Art Centre.

“We will utilise our exceptional skills in regeneration to ensure these landmark historic buildings and the new Louis de Soissons and Bridge Community Buildings, deliver excellent amenities for the benefit of the community, helping to revitalise and breathe new life into the centre of Welwyn Garden City.”

Hill, which will see them build 150,000 sq ft of commercial buildings, creating hundreds of new job opportunities in the town.