A former luxury hotel in Harpenden has been ‘topped out’ as a new luxury housing scheme.

The Glen Eagle Hotel closed in 2010 and Jarvis Homes are now developing the site as 26 luxury apartments, 25 of which have already been sold or reserved.

Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Geoff Harrison, joined site manager James Blackie and chief executive of Jarvis Homes, Mike Peters, for the topping out ceremony. In line with tradition, he fixed a yew tree branch to the highest point of the structure.

Mr Peters said: “We are absolutely delighted with the on site progress with the works being on both programme and budge, with completion due in December 2015.”

The closure of the Glen Eagle in the High Street was followed by a decision to shut Harpenden House Hotel in Southdown Road leaving the town without any hotels.