10:44am Thursday 11th March 2010
By Manisha Mistry
CONTROVERSIAL plans to develop a dilapidated centre centre block, which have been met with fierce opposition from heritage campaigners, are set to be discussed next week.
In August last year a St Albans District Council planning committee refused permission for the ambitious proposals submitted by developers Antringham Verulamium to transform Hertfordshire House.
A new police station, an 87-bed Travelodge hotel, 46 flats over four floors and units to be used by the Primary Care Trust have been branded a “gross overdevelopment” by the district council.
The developers took the decision to appeal and a public inquiry will begin in April where the Planning Inspectorate will make the final decision.
The district council's Planning Referrals Committee will be meeting on Thursday, March 18, to discuss a number of reasons for refusal which will be removed from the application before it is determined at the inquiry on April 20.
Campaigners the St Albans Civic Society have been firmly against the plans stating the application could prejudice the outcome of the city's master plan – the City Vision project.
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