Croxley Green Parish Council (CGPC) has agreed “in principle” to a new proposal to redevelop the former Red Cross Centre on Barton Way.
Hoping to provide a “win-win” agreement for residents, the proposal was put forward by Leader of Three Rivers District Council councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst.
The future of the Red Cross Centre was first thrown into question in 2019, when the Red Cross decided to surrender its leasehold over the building.
Replacing the currently unused centre, the new building will provide office and meeting spaces for CGPC, a new community space and up to eight two-bed flats.
The proposal is still subject to detailed discussions regarding the financial and operational implications of the scheme, together with an assessment of the development’s viability.
Councillor David Tobin, chair of CGPC, said: “Our existing building, basically a former Portakabin, is coming to the end of its useful life. Having a new parish office next to the library and our ability to manage a community facility for Croxley would, in our view, be a great move and clearly a ‘win-win’ for all of us if this can all be achieved.”
Cllr Giles-Medhurst said: “District council officers have worked hard on this idea over the last few months to get to this stage.
“We want to provide the best deal for Croxley Green residents that helps families and provides community space and a new modern parish office in the centre of Croxley.
“It’s been great to involve David and the parish council in our proposals and we look forward to finalising the plans in the next few weeks and outlining them in detail to residents. I believe this satisfies so many needs and is a win for everyone”
Cllr Chris Mitchell shared: ““I’m thrilled we’ve been able to secure a positive future for the Red Cross site. After campaigning for over five years to keep it for community use, things are finally moving forward.
“While my first choice was to transfer the building to the Parish Council, I proposed an alternative: dedicating the ground floor of a new development to the community. Thanks to Councillor Giles-Medhurst and a fresh approach after the local elections, this idea has become a real possibility. It’s a testament to how politics works best when parties come together to achieve shared goals.”
The proposals are subject to planning permission and further approvals, as required by both councils.
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