Photos have offered a latest look at land earmarked for a new Watford General as rebuild plans continue to hang in the balance.

Rather than work ramping up on a "state of the art" facility, the Vicarage Road site has a boarded-up plot of land purchased last year for the project being used as industrial storage, while the car park set to be bulldozed remains in use.

The previous government had promised a new "fully funded hospital", but with no official Treasury sign-off pre-election the project is now in limbo. 

The new hospital would be build on the current car park and disused land next to the current facility.The new hospital would be build on the current car park and disused land next to the current facility. (Image: Newsquest) Labour says it is grappling with a £22bn black hole it inherited and that involves reviewing all major schemes - including the New Hospitals Programme - promised under the previous administration.

If eventually given the green light, the current car park to the south of the existing building will be levelled along with an empty plot next to Thomas Sawyer Way in order to build three high-rise buildings up to 20 storeys tall.

The final site was acquired by the West Herts Teaching Hospitals Trust in January.The final site was acquired by the West Herts Teaching Hospitals Trust in December, 2023. (Image: Newsquest)But no work appears to have been done on the disused plot, which was acquired by the trust in December last year, as it is currently being used as a temporary car park and to store industrial materials, with overground hedges around the edges.

Watford General Hospital redevelopment potential layout. Watford General Hospital redevelopment potential layout.The previous car park also remains unchanged and in use although its 1,300-space multi-storey replacement was completed in 2022 to the cost of £40 million.

The car park will be levelled to build the new facility.The car park will be levelled to build the new facility. (Image: Newsquest)Alessandra Smith, 66, said a new hospital was “very necessary” for the town as the current one appears “a bit run-down”, but was not confident it would be completed by 2030.

The retiree said: “The hope is always there but I have been hearing about it for so long and they haven't even started work.

Alessandra Smith said: I can't think how long I have been hearing about the work there.Alessandra Smith said: I can't think how long I have been hearing about the work there. (Image: Newsquest) “It's not a small delay, I can't think how long I have been hearing about the work there. 

A CGI of how the new facility would look.A CGI of how the new facility would look.

“They have changed everything else and made improvements in the high street, while the hospital is still the same.”Work is expected to start in 2016, although doubts have been raised over the project's funding.Work is expected to start in 2016, although doubts have been raised over the project's funding. (Image: Newsquest) Retired IT worker Bill Cooper said: “The hospital is functional but it is run down, and there are issues with maintenance.

Retired IT-worker Bill Cooper said the town “absolutely needs” the new hospital.Retired IT-worker Bill Cooper said the town “absolutely needs” the new hospital. (Image: Newsquest) “It's a constant battle to find funding for these kind of capital projects and they are one of the first things that go when there's some sort of crisis.

“But we absolutely need a new hospital.”