Plans to replace the former police station, an NHS clinic and parts of the St Albans civic centre with new homes, shops and restaurants could be set in motion early next week.

The highlighted redevelopment area - dubbed the Civic Centre Opportunity Site (CCOS) - is divided into two main sites, and lies at the heart of St Albans City centre.

As well as the aforementioned buildings, the southern portion of the site comprises office block Hertfordshire House and St Albans Magistrates’ Court.

The Ministry of Justice will retain its building for court purposes, while Hertfordshire House will be reused for a residential-led development and is therefore excluded from the site.

According to Angle Property, which owns Hertfordshire House in Victoria Street, the structures are in a poor state of repair and are no longer fit for purpose.

Only the NHS continues to occupy the site, meaning there is minimal activity and the “derelict” buildings are largely empty. As part of the plans, the clinic will be relocated to the ground and basement floors of Hertfordshire House.

St Albans City and District Council has therefore allocated the area for “comprehensive” development, with the ambition to create “a new public realm to draw people from the main High Street through the Maltings and into the Civic Centre quarter”.

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Council leader Julian Daly said: “Most of the CCOS was developed in the 1960s and it is now tired and worn. 

“A comprehensive, high-quality redevelopment of the area will be transformational for St Albans. It will make the city centre more attractive, vibrant and appealing. 

“This is an ambitious, challenging redevelopment following on from the creation of a new museum and art gallery in the city centre.”

The redevelopment will consist of 86 homes – 30 of which will be affordable – new ground-floor shops and restaurants, and substantial office space, along with associated landscaping and parking.

Of the new maisonettes, 47 will be one-bedroom units, 37 will be two-bedroom, and two will be three-bedroom. Of the 86 new homes, 30 will be “affordable”.  

The project will see a slight increase in parking spaces to 120, plus the creation of 150 bicycle spaces.

The proposal will be considered by the council’s planning referrals committee on Monday.