Gas holders that have towered over the community for more than 50 years will be dismantled to make way for housing.

The National Grid says the gasometers in Station Road, Borehamwood are no longer needed and work to remove them will begin in July 2015.

Although there is no immediate plan to develop the site, it has been allocated for housing in the Hertsmere Local Plan.

The land will be developed for 65 flats – though the National Grid says it will not start looking for a development partner to make this happen until around 2016.

Stewart Kellie, joint venture manager from National Grid, said: “Rather than build new homes on green fields we should be using redundant brownfield land.  The gas holder site has been set aside by the local council for housing and our work means the site could have new homes on it in three years.”

Borehamwood Gas Works was owned by the Elstree and Borehamwood Gas Company until 1872, and it was purchased by St Albans Gas Company in 1930.

But today, changes to the way gas is stored means the gasometers are no longer connected to the network because they are not needed.

The gas holders will be dismantled one by one, subject to approval from Hertsmere Borough Council.

Last week, the Borehamwood and Elstree Times reported how Unit 4, a car garage in Station Road, were given seven days notice to leave the building they have occupied for 35 years due to the National Grid's plans.

The National Grid said Unit 4 was in rent arrears and their lease expired in 2013 - but the garage owners disputed this, saying they had attempted to pay rent but it was returned to them.

 

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