Four houses worth several million pounds will be demolished just eight years after they were built because the properties' foundations have "completely failed".

Houses at numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 Rockingham Gate, Bushey, will be flattened and rebuilt.

They were among eight houses built by Michael Shanly Homes in 1999 on land off Oundle Avenue. At the time, the four and five-bedroom houses were sold for almost £500,000 each.

However, last month, owners of four of the properties in the close sent in planning applications to Hertsmere Borough Council to bulldoze their homes, thought now to be worth anything up to £1m each.

All four applications were received by the council on January 15, also requesting permission to rebuild the houses identically afterwards.

However, the families will now face the prospect of being rendered homeless for almost a year while the work is carried out.

Steve Mellor, planning director for Michael Shanly, confirmed that, following a structural survey, it was found that the strip foundations of the four houses had "completely failed".

"Surveys have been done and, for a combination of legal reasons and structural reasons, we are going to have to build these houses again, but obviously with better foundations."

Mr Mellor said the work would take about eight months, during which time Michael Shanly Homes would pay to rehouse all four families.

The Watford Observer did attempt to contact the four owners, but at the time of going to print none had responded.

Furthermore, three of the four houses in question already appear to be empty.

Neighbours have questioned whether a less drastic and disruptive measure, such as underpinning the foundations, could be taken, but Mr Mellor said it was the homeowners' right to chose.

He added: "They want this problem sorted out once and for all.

"Surely it is within the rights of the owners of those properties to pursue what is the best option for them, which in this instance, is a new house."

A decision on the application will be made by Hertsmere Borough Council by March 22.