IN a week plans to build hundreds of homes on the former Leggatts campus resurfaced, land at the redundant Bill Everett Community Centre (BECC) has been declared “surplus to requirements” and formally put up for sale.

It emerged this week that developers George Wimpey are again seeking permission to build hundreds of new homes on the empty former West Herts College site.

The mammoth 235-home development comprises 22 one-bed flats, 89 two-bed flats, one three-bed flat, as well as 56 three-bedroom houses and 67 four-bedroom houses.

The huge proposal also includes a community centre, a play area, car parking, refuse bin and bicycle stores and will see road access created from Leggatts Way and the A41.

The latest application comes ten months after a slightly bigger plan to build 248 new homes was taken to a public consultation before being withdrawn by planners.

On that occasion, Watford Borough Council’s planning officers recommended the plan for refusal on 13 separate reasons.

Following fresh consultations with the council a new planning application was formally submitted last week.

On Monday, Hertfordshire County Council’s cabinet committee voted to sell land on the BECC, meaning the 2.7 acre plot will now be auctioned for redevelopment.

The land, which is likely to be sold to a housing developer, will pocket the county council about £3 million of which just over £1 million would be handed to Watford Borough Council.

However, with the current uncertainty in the housing market, the county council has warned it may have to wait to find a suitable buyer for the site.

Since the closure of the BECC in July, youth services on the Leggatts site have completely halted.

On Monday, the cabinet agreed to transfer the county’s youth support services, Youth Connexions Hertfordshire, to the Lower High Street, Watford.

The building will undergo a £500,000 make-over, with a further £350,000 earmarked to build a music studio at the new centre.