A new design for a £60 million development at a city centre site has been chosen.

The concept by London-based architectural firm, Space & Place, was picked after people living in the area were asked to give their views in an online survey.

Three designs were put forward by architects for the area near the Alban Arena on the site of a former police station and NHS clinic, also known as the City Centre Opportunity Site South (CCOS South).

The council said included in the chosen design there will be 93 homes built - 60 for sale at market price and 33 will be regarded as affordable housing.

In the design there is also a commercial building on the junction of Victoria Street and Bricket Road.

There will be 6064 squares metres of commercial space and 100 car parking spaces. The building will have a curved, glazed facade and be separated by green walls from an adjacent residential block.

But the decision to adopt the design will be subject to approval of the St Albans City and District Council's cabinet.

The online meeting will take place this Thursday (April 23).

Cllr Robert Donald, responsible for commercial and development said: "I’m delighted to announce the design that has clearly won the backing of our residents in the extensive public engagements that we held.

"It also successfully met the council’s other development, environmental and sustainability evaluation criteria for the project."

Planning permission for a three-block design was acquired in 2017 but the council said it later decided substantial improvements were required.

A further planning application was met with public concern and was withdrawn in November 2019.

The next stage of the project will include finalising the detailed designs and submitting a revised planning application in the summer.

Cllr Donald added: "There are a number of stages that we still have to complete before the next phase of construction work can begin on this ambitious project.

"Amongst these will now be consideration of the long-term impact of the current coronavirus pandemic on future commercial, residential and retail markets and home-working.

"We will also be providing a substantial number of much needed new homes for the district, with 35 percent of these being at affordable rent levels.

"We will be creating valuable business space that can help grow the local economy to the benefit of our residents and existing retailers.

"This is one of the biggest developments the council has ever undertaken and now, with the significant backing of the public, we can start to make a real success of building this exciting design for our city’s future prosperity and enjoyment."