THE first step in the rebuilding of the Batchwood leisure complex in St Albans following last summer’s fire has been taken by councillors.

They have given planning permission to two schemes as part of the rebuilding project – new bowls and golf pavilions on the hilltop site.

A separate planning application for the major casualty of the arson attack during the summer riots last summer, the tennis centre, will be submitted later this year.

The new golf pavilion and changing facilities are being built in an area that previously did not contain buildings. But despite the Green Belt position of the site, councillors agreed with their officers’ recommendation that it should go ahead because special circumstances outweighed any harm to the area.

Both applications had to go before a planning committee because they had been submitted by St Albans district council.