A new team has been given the green light for further development plans in the city.

St Albans City and District Council launched a commercial and development department in October last year, which as identified 36 potential projects which could raise revenue, reduce costs or maximise opportunities for the council since its inception.

The SACDC has now voted to make the department permanent, and it will prioritise these projects to generate £1million of net income by 2020 to support the council's services.

Cllr Julian Daly, who oversees commercial and development for the council, said: "These community and commercial development projects can be driven forward more swiftly and efficiently by a dedicated in-house team.

"The projects range from new facilities for the community, such as the new museum and gallery, to income-generating schemes, like redevelopment in the St Albans city centre.

"In each case we want to make better use of council land to meet a local need, whether it is for housing, office space or leisure facilities."

Key projects including building affordable homes in Batchwood and Sandridge, redeveloping council-owned cultural and leisure facilities in Harpenden, redeveloping the area around the council offices and turning the old town hall into a museum and gallery, while turning the former museum site into a housing site which will fund the new museum and art project.