More than 9,000 jobs are set to be created in Watford over the next five years after extensive redevelopment plans were approved on Monday, although opposition leaders have urged residents to "wait and see" if the promises can be delivered.

Watford Borough Council, led by Liberal Democrat Elected Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, has approved a series of plans for 2015 to 2020, including a £150 million regeneration of Charter Place in 2017, creating new retail and leisure spaces, including a new IMAX cinema.

The £284.4 million extension of the Metropolitan Line to Watford Junction Station and the regeneration of Watford Business Park are also planned in the next five years.

Mrs Thornhill told the Watford Observer ahead of the approval that it was a great time to be a Watfordian and that people were beginning to see evidence of the town’s accelerating progress.

She also said Watford had fared "exceptionally well" in the light of economic recession.

Labour Councillor Nigel Bell said his party supported growth where it occurred, but urged caution and scepticism.

He said: "After the coalition, which didn’t help, we just hope that the plans go ahead. We still haven’t got back to early 2000s levels of employment".

He added that Mrs Thornhill’s comments may be pushing things a bit far.

He said: "Many people suffered under the recession and under her government.

"Let’s just wait and see."

Councillor Bell also said he supported fellow Labour councillor Asif Khan, who said it was "about time we saw some recovery".