10 Jul 2026
Months after a failed attempt to win approval for a massive retirement community in the very heart of St Albans city centre, and a huge section of Catherine Street’s retail footprint remains derelict with no plans for its future.
Developers McCarthy & Stone wanted to develop 42 one and two-bedroom retirement living apartments, plus six chalet bungalows, on the huge site once occupied by the Coupers car dealership, The Meating Room, A Touch of Spice and Hidden Hearing.
This specialist retirement community would also have included high quality communal landscaped gardens and private outdoor amenity areas, as well as space for 22 parking spaces and mobility scooter stores.
Ahead of submitting a planning application, the company said it believed the development would free up local housing as older people downsized into the new community, while also providing a vital boost to local businesses, with residents expected to spend a total of £370,000 in local shops and businesses each year.
But when a planning application was eventually submitted, SADC rejected the scheme, citing concerns over flood risk management, neighbours being overlooked by the development, and harm to the character and appearance of the St Albans Conservation Area and streetscene.
There was also no completed legal agreement relating to the social and infrastructure needs of the scheme, including the provision of affordable housing and appropriate servicing.
Neighbours had also raised concerns about the lack of parking within the area, congestion at the junction with St Peter’s Street where there was a pedestrian crossing, the loss of commercial businesses on Catherine Street, and the impact on residents living in nearby St Peter’s Mews.
The applicants did not appeal against the decision, and to date no revised application has been submitted.
St Peter’s ward councillor Sean Hughes said he was not aware of any recent intent by the commercial landlord for the site, but it was up to the owners to decide its future.
He added: “The high business rates burden placed on city centre businesses, allied to high National Insurance costs and often high commercial rent levels, all contribute to the difficulty of filling retail space that falls vacant.
“That said we are very lucky in St Albans to have a healthy high street and a lot of the vacant stores across the city centre are in the process of being filled. As you know we are committed to ensuring our high street not just survives but thrives.
“Catherine Street is a very important part of our city with many unique independent businesses. St Albans BID have recently added bunting and flowers to brighten the space but we would like to see more business start-up in these empty spaces.
“Over recent years I think Catherine Street has become our artistic quarter with many creative businesses with new startups and this needs to be encouraged and supported.
“My colleagues and I are keen to work with BID and businesses on Catherine Street to make it more of an exciting place to visit and a hub for new enterprise.”
McCarthy & Stone have confirmed they no longer have any interest in the land.
A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately McCarthy & Stone’s application was refused by St Albans City and District Council in February 2026 and we therefore ended our interest in the site.”
With no proposals forthcoming for this part of the city centre, its future is now uncertain, meaning the existing properties will continue to deteriorate and this vast area of land will remain untouched, while elsewhere in the district Green Belt land continues to be targeted for development…
