A CCTV control room relocation project for Watford’s Intu shopping centre costing almost half a million pounds has been delayed until next summer.

It was originally hoped that plans to move the current CCTV facility at Charter Place management suite to its new proposed home at Watford Police Station, in Shady Lane, could have begun earlier this year.

However, because the council only signed a lease with Intu last month for the redevelopment of Charter Place, it is only now working on inviting tenders for the main works, with a possible completion date of July 2014.

In a statement the council said: "The delay in commencement resulted from very complex lease negotiations between the council and Intu which were only concluded in July when the lease was signed.

"That is why the timescales referred to in the cabinet report regarding the CCTV relocation have not been met.

"However it is important to note that these were draft timescales to reflect the state of play at the time the report was written.

"The project should be completed by July 2014. Exact timetables will need to be written into the tender which also as previously mentioned has not been completed as yet.

"The sum of £487,000 is a current estimated cost with contingencies. Expenditure on the project is approx £15,000 to date comprising preliminary survey work and fees for the drafting of specifications.

"The council plans to invite tenders for the main works in the near future and once tenders are returned we will be able to plan the budget and review the specification if required. The project is not overspent or behind schedule."