A building previously home to a respite centre for children is to be retained for community use, according to a planning document.

The former Nascot Lawn children’s unit in Watford, which closed in 2018, will be refurbished and offer a range of services for people of all ages with learning disabilities, subject to planning permission.

An application has been submitted to Watford Borough Council seeking the approval to refurbish the locally listed building.

The building was previously used as a respite care centre for severely disabled children but was shut by Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), despite a huge campaign from parents to save the centre.

The CCG announced in 2017 it could longer afford to pay the £600,000 a year to keep Nascot Lawn in Langley Road open.

Watford Observer: The fight to save Nascot Lawn Respite Centre continues

Since the end of 2018, the building has been lying empty. The planning application submitted earlier this month is the first indication since of what lies ahead for the site.

An extract from the application states: "The building was previously used by the NHS as a respite care centre for severely disabled children and has been empty for two years.

"It is proposed to offer similar services therefore we are not seeking permission for a change of use.

"The refurbished building will offer a range of services for people of all ages with learning disabilities and their families and carers.

"The building has a prominent location on the main road, and we do not propose to make any changes to the external character and appearance of the building."

The application does propose to knock down two outbuildings.

The planning application, which has been submitted by Thames Valley Surveying Limited, is expected to be considered by a planning officer at the council, with a decision scheduled to be made by April 30.

The application can be found here.