Council officers did not include a new village with stadium in their draft of new local development plan. The proposed massive development is argued as compromising division between St Albans and neighbouring councils. A Herts Advertiser report.

In the draft site selection for the upcoming Local Plan, council officers argued against going ahead with the development of a 1,265-home community village on Noke Lane to the south of the city.

This 52.7ha development would have included a 6,000 capacity football stadium which would have been a new home for the football club, which currently resides at Clarence Park.

In their analysis, which will be discussed by the council’s planning policy committee next week, officers wrote: “Given the relationship between the site and the gap between Bricket Wood and Watford any reduction in openness would compromise the separation of settlements in physical and visual terms.

“The site contributes to the 0.2km gap separating St Albans and Chiswell Green and the 1.1km gap between Chiswell Green and Bricket Wood.

“Given the scale of both gaps, any reduction would compromise the separation of settlements in physical and visual terms, as well as overall visual openness.”