DEVELOPERS have revealed plans to increase the number of homes on the former Napsbury Hospital site by more than a quarter.

Crest Nicholson has permission to build 420 homes on the old psychiatric hospital site in London Colney but on Wednesday announced plans for a further 125 homes.The company says the number of affordable homes on the site will increase from 100 to 130 but London Colney ward councillor Malcolm MacMillan has vowed to fight the proposal "tooth and nail."

He said: " I think the 420 units which have already been agreed are as much as the local infrastructure can take. I will fight tooth and nail to ensure that this will be the maximum number allowed on the site."

Councillor MacMillan also said he was worried what effect an increased number of homes and therefore, vehicles could have on roads in the area.

Crest Nicholson also revealed it is hoping to retain some of the hospital buildings that were due to be demolished in order to redevelop them for housing.

The site has been plagued by controversy in recent years. It was central to a public inquiry after St Albans District Council failed to pinpoint which of the site's buildings it wished to see locally listed and retained.

The buildings have also suffered a series of fires.

The development, to be renamed The Arboretum, will see Napsbury transformed over the next four years into executive apartments, family homes, and affordable rented accommodation.

Planning and design manager for Crest Nicholson Scott Black said the extra homes will not involve any extra building on the site, merely the construction of smaller houses and apartments. And it is predicted that this will only mean an extra 50 cars will need to be catered for, he said.

He also outlined some of the financial contributions the developers will be making to leisure, education and transport facilities in the surrounding area.

He said that a donation of around £325,000 will be made for improvements to local transport, while £125,000 will go towards traffic calming work in the area.

More than £1 million will help provide new classrooms for local schools.

The development also looks set to include a variety of leisure facilities, including a clubhouse, tennis courts and park, which will be designated for community use.

June 26, 2002 19:30