Plans for 150 new homes on a 13-acre site in St Albans are a step closer after a housebuilder completed a purchase of the land.

The Harpenden Road site had been earmarked for development since 2021, and has now been bought by Cala Homes in a "multi-million pound" deal.

After a legal challenge against plans was dismissed by the High Court, property consultants Kirkby Diamond welcomed housebuilders to make bids for the land.

Outline planning permission also been granted, meaning that work could begin soon on the project.

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Andrew Wright, senior partner and head of land, planning and development at Kirkby Diamond, said: "St Albans proved to be the exception to the general trend of a subdued housing market and we received unprecedented levels of interest in the site and competitive bids from more than 15 prospective purchasers.

"The offers we received from bidders were of a very high standard which is testament to the standout quality of the site and the technical information we provided."

One of the biggest reasons for the approval of the plans was the housing crisis facing St Albans.

The city has a housing shortage, something local councillors will seek to address with the publication of an eagerly awaited Local Plan.