Policy information sourced from St Albans District Local Plan

139 Napsbury Hospital Redevelopment

Proposals for the re-use and redevelopment of redundant land and buildings at Napsbury Hospital will be considered in the light of the guidance in Department of the Environment Circular 12/91. Proposals for partial redevelopment shall be put forward in the context of comprehensive, long-term plans for the site as a whole.

The District Council is pursuing a mixture of conversion and redevelopment in the context of guidelines (b) and (c) of Circular 12/91.

The District Council will co-operate with the Health Authority in the preparation of a Planning Brief for the site, outlining the nature of the proposals and how they are to be implemented. The Planning Brief will he incorporated within the Planning Agreement with the Health Authority and will form the basis for determining any planning applications. The following principles will be taken into account in the preparation of the Planning Brief:

1) Replacement Floorspace

The impact of any redevelopment on the Green Belt shall be no greater than that of the existing development. The new buildings shall not normally occupy a larger area of the site nor exceed the height of the existing buildings. An assessment will be made of the impact of the character and dispersal of new dwellings on the Green Belt and the existing landscape;

2) Buildings to be Retained

The following buildings are considered by the District Council to be of architectural and historic interest and worthy of retention and conversion:

  • West Hospital
    • Administrative Block and Clock Tower
    • Water Tower
    • Forsythia and Fir
    • West Hall
    • Hawthorn and Hornbeam
  • East Hospital
    • Central/Front Administrative Building
    • East Hall
    • Arbutus, Azalea, Beech and Blackthorn Wards
    • Orchard House
    • Shenley Lane

Lodge Any use compatible with adjoining development as proposed in the Planning Brief should be considered;

3) Land Uses

The predominant use of the site will be for housing and the Council will seek to negotiate an element of affordable housing in accordance with Policy 7A. In addition, the following mix of uses will also be considered commensurate with the capacity of the site in environmental and highway terms and guideline (c) of Circular 12/91:

  1. Health Authority Use Land and buildings to be retained by the Health Authority shall be defined;
  2. Employment Use Provision for Class B1 uses including accommodation for small firms. The re-use of retained buildings should be investigated (see 2) above);
  3. Hotel The feasibility of considered, to meet visitor needs. The building should be above); an hotel shall be business and tourist re-use of a retained investigated (see 2) above);
  4. Leisure and Recreation Leisure facilities shall be provided in the proposed Community Forest area (see 5.) below);
  5. Landscape and Public Access The site and land to the north and south is within the designated Landscape Development Area (see Policy 105). An important aim is to enhance the amenity value of the site as a whole. Mature trees shall be retained and a tree preservation order will be prepared as part of the planning brief. The environs of the buildings shall be used for Community Forest purposes (see Policy 143A) and will require substantial phased tree planting at an early stage by planning condition or legal agreement. Landscape screening of any new development will be required, particularly from London Colney, the A414 and the railway line. Proposals shall take into account the need to facilitate public access and opportunities will be taken to provide footpath/cycleways including recreational routes.

4) Highway Network

The overall type and scale of development must be capable of being accommodated within the capacity of the existing road network, subject to minor improvements which will need to be agreed with the Highway Authorities concerned. Planning permission will not be granted before a planning agreement is concluded to provide the necessary improvements. The traffic impact upon Shenley Lane, London Colney and residential roads in London Colney and southern St. Albans and the environmental effects upon the Metropolitan Green Belt must be minimised. Traffic management/calming measures between London Colney High Street and Shenley Lane are to be achieved by legal agreement. The highway network should also be designed in a manner that allows for the possible future construction of a new railway station close to the old Napsbury Halt.

For more information please see the Local Plan