8:50am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Manisha Mistry
PLANS for a controversial city centre development, which were withdrawn this week, are not dead in the water campaigners have warned.
On Thursday, Antringham Verulamium and Travelodge withdrew their joint application for the development of Hertfordshire House.
The pair were ready to face a public inquiry next month after St Albans District Council refused planning permission for the dilapidated block in August last year.
St Albans Civic Society has been opposed to the plans for an 87-bed hotel, 46 flats and units for Hertfordshire Constabulary and the primary care trust, stating the land could be put to better use.
Peter Trevelyan, chairman of the society, said: “If they come back with a fresh application we would hope it would be consistent with the master plans for the St Albans City Vision.
“Essentially we think this is the wrong scheme for the wrong location.” The public inquiry set for April 20 has now been cancelled.
Councillor Chris Brazier, cabinet member for planning, added: “The developers felt they were not having much success with the current plans and they thought they were going to be refused by the planning inspector.
“I think they are right to go back and rethink the whole thing. We do need a hotel in St Albans but it needs to meet the needs of the people of St Albans.
“Hertfordshire House is an important place for St Albans and when they submitted the first application we did not think the overall size was good for the area.”
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