RESIDENTS and councillors have welcomed a "development for the future" which will see 16 dilapidated blocks of flats bulldozed and replaced with 206 new homes.

Genesis Housing Group is seeking permission from Hertsmere Borough Council to build 50 houses and 156 flats on former Ministry of Defence (MoD) land in Girtin Road, Munro Road and Gulland Close, in Bushey.

The proposed development would replace the existing flats and garages, which are either run-down or empty.

The proposal would provide a mixture of homes to be sold, either privately or through shared ownership, and others for sheltered accommodation or to be managed by housing associations.

About 60 families currently live in the flats and the new development would take between two and three years to complete but will not require any of the tenants to be relocated.

Pam Skillicorn has lived in a second floor flat in Munro Road for the past eight years is delighted with the new development.

Pam, 62, said: "To me it is a new home and a move from these flats.

"There is a lot wrong with these and to pull them down and start again is probably the best thing. I think that it (the development) will be a higher standard so I am looking forward to it."

Of the 156 one and two-bedroom proposed flats, almost two thirds will be sold, with the remaining flats to be used for social housing or as sheltered accommodation.

And of the 50 potential two, three and four-bedroom houses, 43 will be made available to many of the families currently living in the flats, with the remaining seven sold.

The redevelopment would also include 308 car parking spaces, a community centre, and will improve access to the area, which is now outdated.

The current buildings were built more than 50 years ago for the MoD, but have recently become a source of consternation for local residents, with four of the building now boarded up.

The empty flats have become targets for vandalism and graffiti. The application comes after more than 18 months of meetings and consultation with tenants, other local residents and councillors.

Hertsmere Borough Council has until June 15 to make a decision on the application.