A NEW design will be submitted for multi-million-pound plans to modernise Oaklands College, it was confirmed by its principal this week.

Plans to modernise the college, in Elstree Way, fell through after two years of negotiations following a meeting last month of Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee.

The proposed redevelopment of the Borehamwood campus was refused by the planning committee after it ruled it would not fit in with the revitalisation of Borehamwood town centre.

The plans included a three- and four-storey college building, 125 new flats and townhouses, car parks, landscaping and total demolition of the existing buildings Principal Mark Dawe said: “What we are trying to do is enhance the college by adding to the provision of services available on the Borehamwood campus.

“We were disappointed the application didn’t go through but the problems highlighted are not insurmountable. We had already been in close contact with the officers of the council to make sure we met the needs but we will look further into what we can do.”

One of the reasons for refusing the plans included a concern about the narrowness of the access road and the potential to create dangerous traffic conditions in Studio Way.

Mr Dawe added: “We are not expecting traffic to be a problem as there shouldn’t be any greater use of cars. We also encourage people to use public transport to get here.”

The layout of the site was also criticised for being cramped in relation to proposed tree planting, cosmmunity open space and car parks around the main entrance to the site.

In an article last week in the Borehamwood & Elstree Times, planning committee chairman Councillor Derrick Gunasekera said members of the committee recalled how the college’s application had similar design problems as design of the building of the Ibis Hotel, in Elstree Way.

Mr Dawe said: “It is very hard to get what the feeling of the road actually is and I think we produced a fairly sympathetic design to go with other buildings in the area.

“We are going to take any ideas on board and will re-submit or appeal the decision as soon as possible. The whole point of the college is to provide the best education we can and we hope next time the design will be suitable.”