Leahoe land to be sold for housing

Land adjacent to County Hall could be sold to Cala Homes is redevelopment plans are approved.

Plans for the site were revealed last year but an updated report has now been put before the council's Resources and Performance Cabinet.

Hertfordshire County Council own Leahoe House, annex and Leahoe Gardens, which includes a number of poorly maintained and abandoned residential properties.

The updated report says the site has the potential to deliver a residential-based redevelopment scheme. HCC officers have been engaging with the market to identify a development partner capable of bringing forward a successful redevelopment scheme.

The site was marketed in late 2022 by Walter Cooper Surveyors on behalf of HCC, and 10 bids were received. Following multiple rounds of scoring and moderation, Cala Homes has been identified as the most suitable bidder

The Leahoe site consists of the Victorian Leahoe House and annex, tennis courts and 41 residential properties previously used as staff housing. The majority of the properties are described as being of poor construction, with issues bringing them up to and maintaining them at a 'good homes' standard. 

Leahoe House is of local historic importance but not Listed, although some protection is afforded by the designation of County Hall. 

Any sale of the site will be subject to the developer obtaining planning permissions, and it is expected that Leahoe House would be retained and converted.

A final decision on the future of the site will be made at a future meeting of the council’s cabinet.