Watford Lemarie Centre to become storage facility

The Lemarie Centre in St Albans Road, Watford, was demolished in June last year after reaching the "end of its life" and suffering fire and flood damage while vacant.

The site was left empty until plans were submitted in March to redevelop it as a secure storage yard with 30 containers for individuals and businesses.

The Lemarie Centre after suffering damage. (Image: Stephen Danzig)

In its decision published today (July 18), Watford Borough Council approved the proposals and ordered that works begin within three years.

The applicant had claimed that the redevelopment would “revive” the site and its investment could attract additional business and employers to the area.

The Lemaire Centre being demolished last June. (Image: Stephen Danzig) They highlighted the demolished Shell petrol station across the road as another local business closure, adding: “The reactivation of the proposal site would greatly benefit the ambiance of the local business environment.”

A site plan for the approved storage facility. (Image: Archplan Designs LTD)

The depot will be accessed from St Albans Road and will have two rows of containers measuring six metres-long by 2.59 metres-wide.

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Charities Playskill and Watford Mencap left the centre in January, 2022, and moved into the former Nascot Lawn building in Langley Road.

After they moved out, six fire engines attended a blaze at the site in March of that year.

The fire was classed as arson, although police said all lines of enquiry had been exhausted with no suspect identified.

The centre suffered fire damage in an arson attack in March, 2022. (Image: Zoe Tunstall) It later suffered “serious flooding” in December of 2022 after pipes burst due to “frost and thaw” during a cold snap.

The land is owned by Watford Borough Council, which said last year that it was “considering its options” for the site, including the potential for a mixed-use development under the local plan.

Watford mayor Peter Taylor then said the building had “reached the end of its life” and that bringing it back into use would be “extremely expensive”.

He added: “Leaving it unused makes it a target for antisocial behaviour and vandalism, posing a threat to the safety and well-being of the surrounding community."