New campus homes bid
College buildings listed for their architectural importance are to be refurbished by developers under new plans to build homes on a controversial city-centre site.
But Fairview New Homes, which owns the land earmarked for development on the Oaklands City Campus site in St Albans, are remaining tight-lipped about locally-listed houses on the periphery of the site.
A public exhibition is to be held early next month to show the public what Fairview have in mind for land at the campus in St Peter's Road, St Albans.
The firm originally intended to build 300 new homes on the site but in February last year the Department of Culture Media and Sport listed seven of the 1960s' college buildings and the application was withdrawn.
The scheme also envisaged demolishing a number of locally-listed Edwardian houses in St Peter's Road which local residents want to see retained.
This week a spokesman for Fairview said its new scheme would include renovating the listed buildings. He added: "We aim to give these buildings and the whole of the site a new lease of life. The seven listed buildings have become run down. Fairview is investing heavily in the renovation of these buildings as part of a new high quality residential development.
"There is considerable pressure for housing development on Green Belt Land around St Albans. This scheme will make a valuable contribution towards providing the accommodation that the city needs..."
A spokesperson for the Oaklands Action Group, which campaigned against the original plan, said: "It is good news that Fairview is now looking at restoring the listed buildings.
Herts24, 19th August 2004
