Health campus decision tonight

8:14am Thursday 15th May 2008

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Ten months after they received plans to build the Watford Health Campus, councillors are due to deliver a verdict on the £1 billion project tonight.

However, the meeting is expected to be the subject of a demonstration from environmentalists who are opposed to the construction of a new road on playing fields close to Oxhey Park.

A 2,000 planning document, described by planners as "the biggest application Watford has ever seen", was originally submitted to Watford Borough Council for consideration in July last year.

The council's planning committee then sat through the first of two meetings to debate the plans in December.

However, the scheme has since been delayed due to a "holding objection" from the Highways Agency. The agency had concerns about the impact the development would have on the M1 and requested further analysis be undertaken.

Council officers have now recommended the scheme for approval and the Highways Agency were expected to drop its objection before the meeting.

The council's development control committee was expected to grant planning permission at the town hall, last night.

If the scheme is passed a brand new hospital will be built on the existing Watford General site, along with hundreds of key worker homes, a hotel, office and restaurants.

The controversial link road, which will be built on park land next to the Watford Irish Club on Wiggenhall Road, also remains part of the project.

Watford Friends of the Earth are expected to stage a demonstration outside the town hall prior to the meeting in protest at the road.