Permission has been granted for a business to knock through the walls of Watford’s former Sports Direct and David’s Bridal units for a single large store.

Watford Borough Council approved the planning application seeking permission to turn vacant units B and C at Waterfields Retail Park into one site for a single tenant to use this week.

The unspecified occupant would apparently need up to 30 per cent of the total ground floor space to be used for the sale of food, according to the applicant - which is a real estate investment manager.

The units as Sports Direct was closing down (2021) (David's Bridal shut in 2023).The units as Sports Direct was closing down (2021) (David's Bridal shut in 2023). (Image: Google Street View)

This could have been an issue because permission for the retail park to be built specified stores there would be "non-food". However, the council confirmed that the development would be lawful with the caveat that a maximum of 30 per cent of the total ground floorspace be used to sell food.

The rest will be used for “non-food retail use”, according to planning documents.

WBC had previously confirmed that it was fine for a business to sell food at Waterfields on an ancillary café basis. There is a Costa Coffee within the Next at unit A.

Boots occupies unit D, Argos is in unit E, and Smyths Toys occupies unit F.