Business chiefs want to see a high quality development along Breakspear Way from Green Lane to Maylands Avenue.

State of the art architecture will sit alongside attractively landscaped open spaces to bring the ageing industrial estate into the 21st century.

Work has been going on behind the scenes to assemble the land and it is now owned by regeneration agency English Partnerships and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

In October the two bodies will begin the search for a development partner from the private sector, with building work expected to start in around two years' time.

The industrial estate has been struggling with a 'shabby' image and disappearing firms for some time while the Buncefield disaster of 2005 set it back further.

Roy Bain, director of the Maylands Partnership, which is spearheading the estate's recovery, said: "I would hope they are able to attract some really big players on this.

"We want to see really attractive, state of the art, modern buildings.

"We'd also like to see some attractive landscaping around them with water features.

"Potentially there is space to bring about 7,000 jobs in that area.

"It begins to do something about transforming Maylands and giving it the big kick into this century that it needs."

Maylands provides 16,500 jobs but thousands more are dependent on the industrial estate.

"One in three of all jobs in Dacorum are dependent on Maylands," Mr Bain said.

"That is why revitalising it and increasing capacity is so important for the future of Hemel Hempstead."

Tom Davies, development executive for EEDA, said: "A vibrant, appealing and accessible business park will enable Maylands businesses to thrive and provide local jobs for new and existing residents.

"The development of this land will provide an alternative location for locally based companies so that these can remain in the area and act as a catalyst to attract new business into Hemel."