Draft plans showing the new layout of South Oxhey could be on display as early as next month as the second regeneration of the estate rolls on.

The decision to knock down the precinct's shops and flats, and rebuild it from scratch was made in January.

Since then, the project has hired Levitt Bernstein architects, and by the end of next month, residents of the estate will be able to view master plans during a series of design workshops.

Three Rivers District councillor Martin Trevett said: "This is the biggest project we've done, and probably will do, and is very exciting for Watford Rural and Watford as a whole.

"It's getting much more down to the nitty gritty and it's important to ask people's views."

The next step in the project is to find a "development partner" to provide money and expertise.

The procurement process has already begun and 17 developers, including local companies Skanska and Kiers will be shortlisted down to five.

Those remaining contractors will be invited to tender their plans in October, with an aim to have all these in by the end of the year. The decision on which one to choose will be made in March or April next year.

The project hopes to attract shoppers to the estate's precinct area by building a new supermarket, the size of Tesco in Rickmansworth.

Smaller shop owners wanting to move back in to the redeveloped centre will have to pay higher rents, however, by renting units with a smaller floorspace, traders will be able to negate the price hike.

Councillor Trevett said: "There's a huge amount of money being spent outside South Oxhey, in Asda or Sainsburys in Watford. This is not just about shopping, it's about making South Oxhey a nicer place to live."

Currently the 20,000 people who live in South Oxhey spend £26million a year on food, a survey found.

Of this money, £24million is spent outside South Oxhey itself.

In addition, 86 per cent of the money South Oxhey residents spend in pubs and restaurants is spent outside the estate.