The Government has approved plans for the council to build on the Farm Terrace allotment site.

Watford Borough Council today received a decision from the Secretary of State (SofS) for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) that it can go ahead with the Watford Health Campus scheme.

This upholds two previous decisions made.

The SofS stated that the council had demonstrated evidence of why the land is essential to the Health Campus - a plan to build 681 new homes and regenerate Watford General Hospital.

He also recognised that the level of allotment space available for Watford residents will remain the same, and that the council is offering compensation to the allotment holders and providing alternative space.

Elected Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill said: “This is the news that we have been waiting for.

"The Health Campus is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something really exciting with an area that is mainly unattractive old industrial land.

"Why wouldn’t we do everything we can to use it to make a real difference to the lives of our local community and turn it into somewhere we can be proud of.

"We have proved again that the allotment land is critical to delivering the best scheme we can without having to compromise on quality or on the plans for our hospital.

“While I understand that a few allotment holders will be disappointed with this decision, I would like to assure them that we will continue to offer alternative plots a short distance away.

"I hope that they will now accept the decision, especially as the hospital’s emerging plans make it clear that the allotments are a key part of their future in the town.”

Jacqueline Kelly, Chief Executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is great news for all of the partners involved in the Health Campus project.

"We have already set out that the allotment site offers us the most flexibility for our future plans.

"The existing patient and visitor car park is currently unsatisfactory and this decision will help us finalise our proposals for improved facilities for Watford residents.”