A church described as “not fit for purpose” will be demolished and rebuilt – but the new design has split opinion among council chiefs.

The bulldozers will move in to flatten the St Thomas United Reformed Church, which has stood in Langley Road since the 1970s.

But the church will rise again from the ashes in the shape of a three storey building featuring a cafe, community hall and changing rooms.

The scheme will include nine new terrace houses – needed to fund the development of the new church, which was described as “iconic” by one Watford Borough Councillor and “Marmite” by another.

Councillor Mark Watkin said: “It’s a delight when an application comes before this committee that is iconic.

“It will be something that is quite transformative to Langley Road and will transform what is a dead building to something that we can be proud of.”

Councillor George Derbyshire agreed the plans were “aesthetically pleasing” but Councillor Steve Johnson said the design would prove divisive in the community, as his wife “hated it” and he was unsure.

He said: “It’s a Marmite building; you will either love it or hate it. It’s also a shame there are no affordable housing in the plans.”

The scheme was given the thumbs up by the Development Control Committee at Watford Town Hall on Thursday night.