Watford Borough Council's Development Control Committee tonight (Thursday 15th May) agreed to resolve to grant outline planning permission for the Watford Health Campus. The text of the Stakeholder's press release is included below:GREEN LIGHT FOR £1BN WATFORD HEALTH CAMPUS MASTERPLAN The £1bn Watford Health Campus masterplan was given the go-ahead last night (15 May) by Watford Borough Council’s Development Control Committee. The committee voted to "resolve to grant" the necessary permissions, pending completion of the negotiation of a suitable Section 106 agreement. The Health Campus, one of Watford’s largest ever planning applications, will regenerate a 26.5 hectare site in West Watford providing a new state-of-the art major acute hospital, a redeveloped football stadium, a hotel and conferencing facility, hundreds of new homes, new space for businesses and improved access for the site. Promoted by a unique partnership of nine public and private stakeholders the scheme will deliver: 1. A new ‘Major Acute’ hospital to serve West Hertfordshire 2. A revitalised and redeveloped stadium for Watford Football Club 3. Around 150 affordable housing for NHS staff and other key workers 4. Around 350 new private homes 5. New small business and ‘incubator units’ to enhance opportunities for, and encourage new local businesses to grow 6. New small retail units to serve the development and local area 7. New employment and enterprise opportunities 8. A hotel and conferencing facility 9. New GP and other primary care health clinic facilities. 10. Improvements in emergency and other vehicle access to the Campus 11. Increased support and potential custom for the Croxley Rail Link Commenting on the Committee’s approval, Prof Graham Ramsay, Medical Director, of the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust said: ‘This is fantastic news for Watford and West Hertfordshire. Not only will it enable us to deliver the new state or the art acute hospital that the population of West Hertfordshire need and deserve, but also provides new homes, new jobs, and creates a huge amount of new green open space to encourage health promoting activities. The permission also means we can improve the emergency access to the hospital with the new purpose designed Link Road, providing a link to the dual carriageway network and on to the M1/ A41 at M1 J5. We also believe the granting of this permission will further support the case for the Croxley Rail Link which would enable many of our staff, and visitors to come to the hospital by rail.’ Dorothy Thornhill, elected Mayor of Watford said: ‘This decision is a major milestone both for the Watford Health Campus project and for Watford itself. There has been lots of work behind the scenes by all the partners to get to this stage. The regeneration of West Watford can now move into the next stage of the delivery process and start to improve the area for local residents. Political support and active lobbying for the Croxley Rail Link can also now "change up a gear" as the development has now moved that much closer to being "real". The Section 106 agreement negotiated by Watford and County Council officers provides for a substantial financial contribution to local bus services and public transport infrastructure as well as to improvements to local sporting facilities. I believe this innovative development is something the whole of Watford will be proud of.’ Adam Wood, Director for Hertfordshire Prosperity said: ‘The decision by Watford Borough Council to grant planning for the Campus is brilliant news for Hertfordshire. The Campus proposals will see the single biggest investment ever made in Watford and will result in substantial economic benefits for local businesses. The decision also makes a compelling case for the Croxley Rail link and other infrastructure improvements.’ Mark Ashton, Chief Executive of Watford Football Club said: ‘The receipt of the outline planning permission is fantastic news for the town and west Hertfordshire. The proposals could provide the football club with potential new business opportunities that will enhance the area around the stadium, give added value to our supporters as well as furthering our own on and off pitch ambitions. The club’s active involvement in the partnership from day one, over four years ago, I hope demonstrates that our focus is not just on football, but also on the wider needs of the community, who clearly need a modern state-of-the-art acute hospital that we should all be proud of.’ Neil McKay, Chief Executive of East of England Strategic Health Authority said; 'I am absolutely delighted that the Watford Health Campus has achieved the necessary Outline Planning Permission. The new hospital within the Campus will enable the NHS to deliver the excellent care patients in West Hertfordshire deserve, well into the 21st Century. Also, as the NHS National Lead for Sustainable Development, I am especially pleased to see such an innovative and environmentally considerate scheme as this move another step towards delivery.’ Anne Walker, Chief Executive of West Herts Primary Care Trust said: ‘We are extremely pleased and proud of the achievement of the outline planning permission for the Watford Health Campus. We can see the opportunities this development brings for the proactive promotion of good health. We look forward to working with the other stakeholders through the delivery phase to ensure provision of facilities suitable for modern day primary healthcare. We also look forward to participating in and seeing the new hospital’s design proposals.’ Hertfordshire County Councillor Derrick Ashley, Executive Member for Planning, External Relations and Waste, said: ‘The County Council is very pleased that the Campus has achieved its outline planning permission. A development of this size, imagination and innovation is very much welcomed in Hertfordshire and we look forward to the continuation of the innovative aspects and partnership working enjoyed to date as the project moves into the delivery phase. The additional support for the Croxley Rail Link brought by having planning permission as opposed to an application, is substantial and will be reported to the Department for Transport for their considerations on the Croxley Rail Link business case.’ Bill MacIntyre, Chief Executive, Herts Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘I am very pleased that Watford Borough Council has granted Outline Planning Permission for the Watford Health Campus. The Hertfordshire Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust was originally established to ensure partnership working between Local Authorities and the Health service on Health related items. The Watford Health Campus has enlarged on that partnership working and will deliver substantial health benefits for the people of West Hertfordshire. This is a development we can all be very proud of.’ Paul Burrall, Project Champion on EEDA Board said: ‘I welcome the decision of Watford Borough Council to grant outline planning permission for the Watford Health Campus. This is a major milestone in this EEDA core Project. This decision vindicates EEDA’s decision to financially support the Campus and its predecessor, the Cardiff Road Regeneration Project and demonstrates the value that EEDA can bring to such large-scale regeneration projects. We look forward to continue working in Partnership with the other Stakeholders as the scheme moves into the delivery phase.’ Alastair Robertson, Chair of Campus Strategic Management Group (and Managing Director, Watford Borough Council) said: ‘The news that the Watford Health Campus has been granted outline planning permission is welcomed by the Stakeholders. The achievement of this significant milestone in such an important project for Watford as the Campus demonstrates that the Campus plans are deliverable. The Committee’s decision will allow us to move into the delivery phase of the project and thereby start regenerating this area of Watford and creating new work, leisure and health opportunities for West Hertfordshire.’ Claire Ward, MP for Watford said: ‘I welcome the news that the Council’s Development Control Committee has granted outline planning permission for the Campus. As the Campus now moves naturally into its delivery mode, we can expect to see even greater political momentum and support for associated developments such as the Croxley Rail Link, which brings so many access benefits for the people Watford, West Hertfordshire and beyond. I look forward to watching the more detailed design plans for the buildings and especially the new hospital as they evolve and eventually become real facilities.’ The planning application will now go to the Government Office for the East of England for a decision on whether to refer the application to the Secretary of State. The Health Campus is being promoted by nine stakeholders: East of England Development Agency, East of England Strategic Health Authority, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust, Hertfordshire Prosperity, Watford Borough Council, Watford Football Club, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, and West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust. Ends

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Today 7th May Community Leaders have written to the Watford Observer to express their support for the Campus and their disappointment at the approach taken by Watford Friends of the Earth. Text of the letter is provided below:<br /> Dear Sir REF Watford Health Campus Over the last few weeks we have read with increasing dismay the concerted attacks from the single issue group, Watford Friends of the Earth on the Watford Health Campus project. While we appreciate WFoE’s interest in protecting the environment they are missing the bigger picture. The Watford Health Campus will be the single biggest investment Watford and west Hertfordshire has ever seen, bringing nearly £1bn of investment to the Borough and providing a brand new state of the art hospital that will one of the greenest ever built. We do not believe WFoE’s criticisms of the Campus stand up to scrutiny nor reflect the wider views of the Borough. We are fully behind the Campus because it will deliver: 1) A new hospital to replace the existing Watford General Hospital and including a new specialist women's and children's unit delivering 6,000 births per year. 2) More than 500 new homes, including homes for health and key workers. 3) An enhanced stadium for Watford FC including hotel, leisure and hospitality services. 4) Over 2,000 new jobs. 5) New cycle and pedestrian routes throughout the site. 6) Improved bus and public transport access to and through the site. 7)The potential for a new London Underground station adjacent to the site linking the Metropolitan Line to Watford Junction. 8) A new link road providing major improvements in emergency access to the new hospital. 9) A 300% increase in high quality green open space. 10) New and enhanced habitats to encourage bio-diversity. The hospital Trust has stated that they consider the road to be essential to ensure delivery of the new hospital. We urge Watford Borough Council’s Planning Committee to fully endorse the Campus plans. Yours sincerely Mary Reid Chair West Watford and Oxhey Garden and Allotment Society Jessie Winyard Chair of Patient’s Panel West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust Claire Ward, MP MP for Watford Roger Gagan Watford Chamber of Commerce

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The Campus Stakeholders have today written to the Editor of the Watford Observer regarding the recent article with Watford Friends of the Earth which suggested the Stakeholders were doing nothing to support the Croxley Rail Link. THe text of the letter is provided below:<br /> Sir REF Watford Health Campus Yet another flight of fancy from Alina Congreve of Watford Friends of the Earth in criticising the Watford Health Campus Stakeholders (Watford Observer 2 May) for not supporting the Croxley Rail Link and thereby implying that we are only interested in road building. We fully support the Croxley Rail Link and are actively lobbying government for the scheme to progress. We used the Campus pre-application consultation launch event, at which Ms Congreve, other members of Watford FoE, invited members of the public, two MPs and a couple of Government Ministers and senior Civil Servants were present. Then there was the consultation road-show when we made it clear to hundreds of West Hertfordshire residents why we supported the Croxley Rail Link. Every presentation by the Stakeholders, over 35 in the last year alone, has promoted the Croxley Rail Link. The visit of the East of England Minister was used to promote the Campus and the Croxley Rail Link. And of course, we expressed our strong support for the Croxley Rail Link at the Watford Friends of the Earth meeting held 16 August 2007. We have negotiated a S106 agreement that sees a substantial financial contribution being made towards public transport infrastructure in the area. This contribution could be used by the County Council to support the Croxley Rail Link. Most importantly, we are lobbying for the Croxley Rail Link in correspondence with the Secretary of State for Transport. The Campus Stakeholders have written individually and jointly explaining their needs for and expressing their very strong support of the Croxley Rail Link. Our lobbying strategy has followed advice from Claire Ward MP who has helped open doors and who had been getting the London Mayor onside. With the change of Mayor we will need to review our approach re Transport for London. We understand public expectations of the Campus Stakeholders are high but it is difficult to see how we can do more than lobbying Government, making a financial contribution, presenting to the public, Ministers and senior Civil Servants and asking the public to write to their MP’s, in support of the Croxley Rail Link. I wonder what WFoE have done in support? I suppose it’s easier to sit on the sidelines being negative than channel their energies into helping with the campaign. Yours faithfully Alastair Robertson Chair Watford Health Campus Stakeholders Group

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The Watford Health Campus Stakeholders are extremely disappointed to note the recent press coverage in the Watford Observer regarding the delay to a Planning decision for the Campus. The following is the text of our letter the editor:<br /> Once again objectors, Watford Friends of the Earth, have got their facts badly wrong about the Watford Health Campus. I write to set out the actual situation and correct the assertions made about the quality of the work conducted by our professional consultant, Gifford. The Highways Agency has not rejected our Transport Assessment and it does not consider the work conducted by Gifford to be "flimsy" or of "really poor quality", as alleged by Alina Congreve. The Highways Agency has requested that an additional piece of traffic modelling work be conducted to demonstrate the impact of the development on M1 junction 5. It wants to be sure that if any works are needed at the junction, the Campus will undertake them. Our original scoping discussions with Herts Highways had led us to believe that this work was not necessary for a decision on the planning application and we are therefore disappointed about the delay while the extra work is done. For Watford Friends of the Earth (WFoE) to suggest it has common cause with the Highways Agency is nonsensical. WFoE has complained about the new link road proposed and has alleged we have given insufficient attention to public transport. The Highways Agency’s major concern is that the overall development potentially increases the traffic at M1 junction 5; therefore they have asked us to show the impact at the junction. For example, if there were to be excessive vehicle queuing the Campus might need to pay for the traffic signalling to be altered to eliminate the problem. Your readers can access the Transport Assessment on the Watford Health Campus website www.watfordhealthcampus.org and so see what it actually consists of, rather than Watford Friends of the Earth’s caricature in support of its anti-road and anti-development messages. Readers should bear in mind that the Hospital Trust has told the Borough Council that without the new link road there is almost no chance of the new hospital being funded, as there is a need to improve the reliability of emergency access. The Ambulance Trust has written to Watford BC supporting the need for the new road. The Hospital Trust’s Medical Director, Medical Staff Committee and many other members of staff have also written in support. The Campus proposals substantially increase the amount of green public open space within the application boundary and replace a set of energy inefficient buildings with new purpose built buildings featuring cutting edge efficiency and sustainability systems. The proposals improve cycle and pedestrian routes through the site. Contributions to off-site cycleways are being negotiated through the Section 106 planning agreement and it also provides for considerable support for bus services as well as contributions to upgrade the bus and public transport infrastructure. The Watford Health Campus is the biggest and arguably the most important development ever seen in Watford. The benefits the Campus can bring both for the environment and the people of Watford and West Herts are substantial. The extra work required of us has meant Watford BC has had to defer the date when its Development Control Committee will make the decision. Although it is frustrating we fully support the Council’s decision not to take the decision right in front of the local elections. If that means we have to attend more meetings of the Committee and experience further delays then so be it. The Campus needs to have the support of the post May elections council. Yours faithfully Alastair Robertson Chair of Strategic Management Group for Watford Health Campus; and Managing Director, Watford Borough Council

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DATELINE 17th January. Today the Minister for the East of England, Barbara Follett MP, visited the Watford Health Campus site to view the proposals and discuss the innovative scheme with the Stakeholders delivering it. The Minister also heard about the plans for the Croxley Rail Link, which would so dramatically improve public transport access to the Campus site and the proposed new hospital. After the visit, the Minister said "Today has provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about this unique partnership and its proposals to transform West Watford. The Watford Health Campus demonstrates how effective partnership can work towards creating improved services and infrastructure for local residents. I am excited by the proposals I have seen today and look forward to hearing more about how this project progresses."

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The Watford Health Campus Stakeholders welcome the approach taken by Watford Borough Council's Development Control Committee who will consider the Campus Outline Planning Application over the course of 2 meetings. This has allowed for a more extensive and dedicated discussion between the committee, the public and the Stakeholders on what is one of the the largest and most important planning applications ever received by Watford Borough Council. The "pre-decision" meeting was held 11th December 2007 and the formal planning decision is expected to be taken at the Development Control Committee on 21st February 2008.

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DATELINE 31st July 2007. The Watford Health Campus Stakeholders today completed a major milestone in the project to make the Campus a reality, by submitting the formal application for Outline Planning Permission to Watford Borough Council. The application is over 2,000 A3 pages long and details the Stakeholders' sustainable vision for the site. The planning application can be viewed on line through the Watford Borough Council's web-site (www.watford.gov.uk), or at the "drop-in centre" at Watford Town Hall. The application reference number is 07/00958/OUTM. The documentation will also shortly be made available at the Campus web-site.

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The Watford Health Campus concludes its pre-application consultation phase on Monday 4th June with an open house at the Colne Suite of the Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth. Feedback from attendees at the public sessions in Watford, Hemel Hempstead and St Albans, has generally been extremely positive and the Project Team are very pleased with the comments on the proposals which have come back to the Team. The Project Team will remain available for presentations to community groups throughout the project period, so if any reader local to Hertfordshire would like to organise a presentation for their community group, please contact Karen on 01923 693200 to arrange a suitable time and date.

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