Proposals to sell off the site of a former community centre in Watford are set to be considered by county councillors next week.
The Bill Everett Centre, on Leggatts Way, was originally leased to Watford Borough Council and used as a sports and community centre. The property was handed back to Hertfordshire County Council in 2009, with the buildings later demolished in 2014.
Since then, the 1.1-hectare site has been retained as a potential location for a new primary school. However, education officials have now confirmed there is no expectation the land will be required for that purpose within the next decade.
As a result, the county council is proposing to dispose of the site, which could be used for residential development, subject to planning approval.
The proposal will be presented to the council’s resources and performance cabinet panel on Wednesday (April 15).
A report published ahead of the meeting states: “This vacant land has been held in advance of service use as a reserve school site for many years.
“Recent discussions with the county council’s education team have confirmed that there is no expectation that the land would be required for a school within at least the next 10 years.
“As such, it is recommended that the site be declared surplus and available for disposal.
“Subject to planning, it is considered that the site has potential for residential redevelopment”.
According to the report, Watford Borough Council surrendered its “leasehold interest” in the site in 2009, on the condition it would receive 35% of the net proceeds from any future sale.
There has already been interest from potential buyers.
“The county council has received unsolicited interest from various parties seeking to acquire the site,” the report adds.
“This includes the UK Nagara Shiva Temple, which is interested in acquiring and developing the site as a place of worship.
“Officers would welcome bids from any party to acquire the site, which would be subject to the council’s obligations to secure the best consideration from any disposal.”
Details on the financial implications of the sale have not been made public, but have been shared with councillors privately.
The meeting will take place at 10am on Wednesday (April 15) and can be viewed online via Hertfordshire County Council’s website.
Deborah is a Local Democracy Reporter covering news across Hertfordshire, with a strong focus on councils, local government and public policy. Her reporting includes county council decisions, council tax, spending pressures, legal and regulatory issues, healthcare stories including junior doctors, and community projects affecting local residents.
