Inspectors demand explanations from Council over Hospital closure plan
- Government-appointed inspectors are to press Dacorum Borough Council on its plan to close Hemel Hospital
- The Council and the West Herts Trust aim to replace the Hospital with a ‘neighbourhood health centre’ Hub in the Market Square
- Up to 600 flats would be built on the cleared current Hospital site
- The independent expert inspectors are examining Dacorum’s local plan
- They will question the Council and others at public evidence sessions in March
- Parking problems and the risk to Hemel’s heritage will come up
- The inspectors could require the Council to change the local plan document
- That could make it harder for the Council and Trust to close the Hospital
- The inspectors’ questions include:
- Is allocation Hm03 [flats on the Hospital site], and replacement healthcare provision at Hm05 [Hub in Market Square], justified?
- Has appropriate account been taken of historic assets at or near Hm03 and Hm05, notably the grade II listed Tile Mosaic map in respect of Hm03 and the market square setting to the water gardens grade II registered park and garden, such that the allocations, and any criteria to them, are justified?
- Are allocations Hm03 and Hm05 justified, effective and consistent with national policy? If not, what modifications are required to make the Plan sound?