A council has resubmitted its application to the government over its plans to use allotment land for the mooted Health Campus.

Watford Borough Council confirmed it has gone back to the Secretary of State for a third time to gain permission to build on the Farm Terrace allotments land for its Health Campus project.

Campaigners hailed a “huge victory” in the High Court in October after successfully overturning Eric Pickles’ decision to grant the council approval to develop the site.

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said as the Judicial Review decision was “so narrow” - combined with the importance of the land - there was “never any doubt” of the council not trying again.

She told the Observer: “Nothing has changed as the need of the allotment land is as great now as it was when we put in the first application, if not even greater due to spiralling costs.

“The grounds were so narrow [in the court ruling] and easy for us to satisfy and we have to go for the allotments, as the land has to be included if the project is to be the best it can be.

“Nothing has changed, so why would we not put update the Secretary of State with what is now a stronger application?”

An outline planning application for the scheme - which includes building up to 681 homes and the regeneration of the existing Watford General Hospital - was approved in September.

In December, the committee was told Hertfordshire County Council had submitted a formal request requesting for the allotment land to be allocated for a new primary school.

The authority said it had written to the 28 allotment holders prior to council chiefs logging an updated plan on December 18.

The council added in a statement: “Watford is suffering from an acute housing shortage and the hospital is in need of redevelopment, both of which need to be prioritised.

“The Farm Terrace allotment land is key to delivering a regeneration scheme that will provide many affordable homes along with new jobs, hospital improvements and open spaces.”

But Sara Jane Trebar said tenants were “not surprised” by the council’s decision and vowed to fight tooth and nail to the end.

She said: “We thought when the council saw the public support for our cause it would back down graciously but it chose not to.

“While I have not yet seen their new submissions, we assume it will include ‘possible hospital, possible school and possible this and that’ so we will fight on.

“On top of that, there’s the General Election, the hospital trust’s clinical review and the resignation of Samantha Jones last week, so it’s an interesting time and raises questions about the project.

“We are disappointed and saddened taxpayers have been put in this position as it is going to cost the council thousands on top of what they’ve already paid, but we have to keep fighting.

“I actually think the level of support for us has grown – I think people were more in favour when they thought they were going to get a new hospital but they’ve seen it could be a red herring.”