The future of Borehamwood's three disused school sites moved a step closer to being decided this week, following a planning application for a mix of homes, community buildings, sports facilities and open space.

Hertfordshire County Council, which owns the sites, has applied to Hertsmere Borough Council for permission to redevelop the former Furzehill, Hillside and Lyndhurst schools.

Proposals for Furzehill include community buildings on the site of the school building, which could be demolished or kept, which could house Elstree Way's health clinic and family centre, and other local organisations, according to the borough's head of planning Richard Grove. The option of including a day centre for elderly people has also not been ruled out.

The Furzehill proposals also include open space, and an access road south of the school building, from Furzehill Road to the former Fire Research Station site which would also provide access for an estimated 46 homes to be built behind Cedars Close.

Mr Grove said the sports hall was unlikely to stay, because the plans proposed the refurbishment of Hillside's hall, which has changing rooms.

The Hillside application also proposes: 80 homes, some running along the back of Bullhead Road, and part of the playing fields to be transferred to Monksmead School and part to be for public use, managed, along with the sports hall, by Hertsmere Leisure.

If the county sells the Hillside site for a Jewish secondary school, Mr Grove said the borough would aim to retain some community use.

Two Jewish steering groups the Hertsmere Jewish High School Steering Group and the Jewish Community Secondary School steering group confirmed this week they were pursuing their separate plans for schools.

The Lyndhurst application proposes: 115 homes on the site of the school buildings and hard-standing, as well as a new Lair youth club, and the playing fields retained partly for Meryfield School and partly for public use.

Mr Grove said the plans could change "quite considerably" once the county sells the sites, but developers were expected to "follow broadly" approved planning applications.

He added: "There will be concerns about the housing, but there are quite a few significant benefits coming out for Borehamwood as a whole."

The council has set a target date of September 5 to discuss the applications, to be displayed at the Civic Offices next week. Residents are invited to respond.

July 3, 2002 15:30