A developer has announced plans to build 206 new homes on the former Harperbury Hospital site in Radlett.

The abandoned mental hospital in Harpers Lane has been bought by housing developer Bloor Homes, which intends to submit a planning application to St Albans City and District Council in the spring.

Bloor Homes held a public consultation displaying drafts of its plans at the Radlett Centre in Aldenham Avenue last week.

It is proposing to build 134 homes, which would consist of one and two bedroom apartments, and two, three, four and five bedroom houses. This will be in addition to 72 affordable homes.

Planning consultant for Bloor Homes, Stephen Bawtree said: "Part of the hospital site is redundant and not suitable to convert into residential use, and we have been granted permission to redevelop the site, provided that there is minimal impact on the Green Belt land.

"We have sat down with St Albans City and District Council and agreed an approach and the outcome we would like for the scheme, which has been designed so we keep the same pattern of open space including the land around the edge and landscaping features."

Part of the land taken over by Bloor Homes includes a bowls club, a football field and Green Belt land. The bowls club will be relocated to the southern end of the site and the football pitches will be retained.

Leslie Roberts, chairman of the bowls club, said: "Our main concern is that the green is built properly and that it will be ready in time for us. Other than that, we are all looking forward to it."

In addition to the homes, Bloor Homes says it plans to retain and improve the tree-lined Lime Way footpath, and create a new entrance from a roundabout in Harper Lane.

The developer also says it will improve the footway and add a new cycle path along Harper Lane and Watling Street.

The proposals are also intended to enable access that is suitable for Harperbury Free School site on the northern edge of the development.