After plans for a 16-storey tower in the heart of Watford were comprehensively refused, an applicant has returned almost immediately with a completely different proposal.
Last month, Watford Borough Council's planning committee unanimously chose to turn down an application to demolish Exchange House on the town's ring road.
In its place, a C-shaped building rising up to 16 floors would have been built comprising of 261 flats.
Despite the plans being recommended for approval by the council's planning officer, councillors had numerous concerns about the new building including its size, design, and impact on neighbouring buildings.
Related: Why Exchange House development in Watford was turned down
Just 23 days after being knocked back by the committee, planning agents Sphere25 have returned with a new proposal on behalf of its clients, Exchange Road Limited.
The new plans are entirely different to the scheme the planning committee were asked to consider on July 6.
Instead of demolishing the five-storey Exchange House building, the applicants are now seeking to convert the building into 97 flats.
This would include 18 studio flats, 49 one-beds, and 30 two-beds.
The application submitted to the council officially seeks prior approval to change the use of Exchange House into residential use.
Under permitted development rights, full planning permission is not required to turn Exchange House, which is currently used as offices, into homes.
As part of the proposal, the number of current parking spaces at Exchange House would be reduced from 160 to 97.
Planning document state: "While this prior approval application is not subject of detailed assessment against local planning policy, there is clearly a substantial requirement for further housing provision in the borough.
"Indeed, with the borough meeting only 48 per cent of its target against the Government’s housing delivery test between 2017 and 2020, the council should take full advantage of opportunities to deliver new housing."
Papers add: "The new residential dwellings will address housing needs within a sustainable location which is well served by sustainable transport modes.
"As a consequence we consider that this proposal is compliant with local, regional and national planning policy and prior approval should be forthcoming."
In 2017, the council granted prior approval to convert Exchange House into 126 flats. This prior approval has since expired.
The planning application can be found on the council's planning portal. The reference is 21/01186/OPD.
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