New plan could improve Market Square – but will the Hub be big enough?

• New plan could see the ‘neighbourhood health centre’ Hub located on a site bordering Market Square – instead of in the middle of it
• A Dacorum Council document says ‘The historic Market Square will be transformed into a vibrant civic space, inspired by the landscape character of the Jellicoe Water Gardens.’ 
• The document says the Market Square  ‘must reflect a naturalistic,semi-wild character’.  Ideas include planting and a water feature
• But this would cause problems for the plan to close Hemel Hospital and replace it with the Hub
• The original idea was to have a five/six storey Hub building in the middle of the Market Square, blocking views of the Water Gardens
• The new plan suggests the Hub will instead be built along the northern border of the Square, towards the Full House end
• The new, more natural, plan seems good news for Hemel’s heritage and environment 
• But is there enough room at the side of the Market Square for all the hospital services we need? Or will buildings need to be demolished to make room?
• This paper will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet on 3 February (see pages 713-719):

https://democracy.dacorum.gov.uk/documents/g4140/Public%20reports%20pack%2003rd-Feb-2026%2019.30%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10