AN EIGHT-acre site in St Albans which has been given the go-ahead for a retirement community has gone up for sale. Hallam Land Management won a planning appeal this year to develop part of the former St Albans School playing-fields site in King Harry Lane

AN EIGHT-acre site in St Albans which has been given the go-ahead for a retirement community has gone up for sale.

Hallam Land Management won a planning appeal this year to develop part of the former St Albans School playing-fields site in King Harry Lane for a retirement scheme which would include a 40-bed care home with community facilities, 45 extra care/assisted living apartments and 65 age-restricted homes for people over the age of 55.

No planning permission yet exists for the development of the remaining 12 acres on the site.

The decision by Hallam to market the site has come as a surprise to the Verulam Residents Association which has fought to prevent it being developed.

Chairman Barrie Mort said: "We are surprised because we thought they would take responsibility for building this and not try to pass it on to someone else.

"It could be that in the current climate they feel it is not a very good time to develop it. We really don't know what their motives are but we are glad for any delay."

A spokesman for Hallam Land Management said they did not develop land themselves. They had an allied house building company until 2003 but had not had since then.

The site, which has been dubbed Kings Park, is being marketed as a prime development opportunity close to the city centre and Verulamium Park through local estate agents Strutt & Parker.