Revised plans – which could transform a sports club - are expected to be submitted, seven months after an initial proposal was knocked back.

West Herts Sports Club is expected to submit an application for 23 flats and “ambitious” plans to regenerate the club site.

A proposal of 25 flats, put forward by Gada Property Investments, was rejected by the planning committee at Watford Borough Council in July. Councillors expressed concerns about the size of the development, the loss of ‘open space’, where exactly money from the sale of the land would go, and also the loss of NHS facility, Meadowell.

Meadowell, which had been based at the site for 15 years, has since moved after the lease was not renewed.

Hillingdon Times:

Meadowell centre, which is no longer there. The portacabin has gone too.

This time, the club and developer has put the regeneration and residential plans together as one package.

There were no official plans of how the sports club would be developed in the original application.

Members want to invest in new sports facilities and boost membership figures. They propose building a new clubhouse, artificial cricket pitch, and multi-use games areas.

Ahead of a submission of an official application next month, the club is hosting a display over the next two weeks where members hope to receive feedback on the plans.

The club, which is the only mixed-use sports facility in west Watford and has been there since the 1960s, says many of the club’s facilities are “no longer fit for purpose”.

The regeneration plans would be funded through what they hope is the redevelopment of unused land, where Meadowell stood, to create 23 new flats.

Hillingdon Times:

Pictured left to right is club secretary Clive Dodman, trustee Glen Tomlinson, and head groundsman George Mills at West Herts Sports Club

Dennis Lock, president and chairman of West Herts Sports Club, said: “Our aim is to provide some of the best and most comprehensive sports facilities in Watford, alongside the ability to host community events.

“These are ambitious plans that represent investment in grass roots sport, investment in our community and investment in the next generation of sports stars.

“Funding for grassroots sport is simply not there, and certainly for the level of investment we are proposing. Our plan is to redevelop a small portion of land, owned by the club, which has not been used for sport in nearly 30 years.”

“We want to understand the view of our members and the community. Feedback will help inform our plans, which we will submit to Watford Borough Council for consideration.”