One of the new Croxley Rail Link tube station in West Watford will glow in the dark and act as a "beacon" for the area, according to the designing architect.

Michael Watkins, from Acanthus LW Architects, told politicians the Cassiobridge station, which will be elevated above Ascot Road, would be made of material which would illuminate.

He also told Watford Council’s development control committee that the station had would be built from light, fine materials so it did not have an intrusive presence.

The Cassiobridge station will be more prominent that the other new tube station in Vicarage Road, which will be at ground level.

As the Cassiobridge station connects with the viaduct, which comes over the Grand Union Canal, the platforms will be raised above Ascot Road.

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Explaining the design, Mr Watkins said: "What I have attempted to do all the time with this very large structure is to make it as fine and small and as the least intrusive as possible".

"It is a beacon in the sense it is a fairly large structure and will glow at night."

The new stations are being built as part of the Croxley Rail Link will see the Metropolitan Line routed to Watford Junction station.

The proposed route will see the line go from Croxley station, through the two new stations in Ascot Road and Vicarage Road, before connecting with Watford High Street Station and then terminating at Watford Junction.

As part of the project, which is expected to be finished by 2016, Watford Metropolitan Station will close to passengers and be used as a siding.

The Cassiobridge station is due to be built on an island between the old and new Ascot Roads, near Morrisons.

The design shows that the green-tinted station and its platforms will be elevated above street level.

In documents submitted to the council, officers said: "Given its modern design and use of lightweight materials it will have a positive impact upon the character of the area.

"Overall, the layout, scale and external appearance of the building is considered to be acceptable." 

The main elements will include a new entrance concourse, new staircases and lifts giving step-free access to platforms, new platforms and canopies, plant rooms, and bridge over old Ascot Road.

As well as the station building itself, the proposal also includes the station platforms which will extend eastward towards West-field College School.

Officers concluded the building will have "a positive impact" upon the character and appearance of the area due to its modern design and use of high quality materials.

The Vicarage Road Station site will be located about 220 metres from the road junction with Hagden Lane.

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The grey station is designed to be set back from the road to allow a forecourt area to the front for circulation space and to provide bicycle storage.

Officers say the station would appear single storey in height when viewed from Vicarage Road and that, as there are a number of three and four storey blocks of flats nearby, the station’s scale is considered to be acceptable.

The station will also have staircases which will lead from the concourse down to platforms on each side of the track and there will also be lifts to serve each platform.

Watford’s part of the viaduct will run from the centre of the River Gade to the East Abutment.

The viaduct will pass into Croxley Green and must also obtain permission by Three Rivers District Council.

During the meeting, Nigel Bell a Labour councillor for Holywell area, said he welcomed the fact Cassiobridge station would glow at night, especially in light of the fact streetlights cut out a midnight.

Councillor George Derbyshire, a Liberal Democrat for the Park area, noted that there was due to be a multi-storey car park at the Cassiobridge station but no extra parking proposed for the Vicarage Road one.

He added: "I am wondering what is being done to protect people around Vicarage Road, as it is quite densely populated area, from all day commuter parking?"

However Councillor Derbyshire was told that this meeting was only to decide the design of the stations and those issues would be addressed at later meetings.

Councillors voted all four applications for the rail link through unanimously.