Decision on plans for 263 flats on Exchange House site delayed

Watford Borough Council’s planning committee was set to consider plans last night for 263 new flats in a building of up to 21 storeys high on the ring road.

The flats would be built on the site of Exchange House, which would be demolished.

But a notice on the council’s website revealed the applicants had requested to withdraw the item from Wednesday’s meeting.

The notice says: "The applicant has requested that the planning application be withdrawn from the agenda to allow time to explore whether some of the issues raised in the committee report can be more suitably addressed.

"Officers have accepted this request and the application is withdrawn from consideration at this meeting."

The proposal on the locally listed five-storey Exchange House site involves the creation of a ‘C’ shaped building with heights ranging from five to nine storeys, and up to 21 at the junction of the ring road and Upton Road.

Previous story: First look at proposals for 'landmark' flats on Watford ring road

This design was released of the 'C' shaped building last May. The tallest part has now increased from 18 to 21 storeys.

Exchange House currently

The plans have been recommended for approval by Watford Borough Council after the applicants amended its designs in September following a review and suggestions made by the council’s independent place shaping panel.

As part of these suggestions, the height of part of the building has increased from 18 storeys to 21, while the height of other parts of the building has been reduced.

The plans involve 48 affordable homes with a total of 12 parking spaces proposed.

CGI of proposed flats on the site of Exchange House

Avishay Manoach, chief operating officer of applicants 60 Exchange Road Ltd, has previously told the Observer: "The new building will create a landmark feature on Exchange Road and act as a catalyst for further regeneration of the town centre following the recent activity at the intu centre (now Atria Watford), Watford Junction, and on Clarendon Road.”

It turns out that even if the application had not been withdrawn, it would not have been decided last night anyway.

The virtual meeting ended up being postponed before any applications on the agenda had been decided following technical issues with the live stream that prevented the public from being able to watch proceedings.

No new date has yet been set for the Exchange House application to be discussed and decided upon by the planning committee.