Proposed Oxhey flats 'out of keeping', say neighbours

The plans would see the former Hillside Care home in Kingsfield Road, Oxhey, demolished and replaced with a building of nine flats.

Initial plans were rejected by Watford Borough Council on March 1 because of concerns about the size of the scheme and overlooking.

Planning agent DLA Town Planning says the revised proposal takes into account reasons for refusal but it has not been enough for locals to raise concerns.

A wave of objections have appeared from neighbours in the council's planning portal.

The reasons put forward for objection include loss of privacy, loss of light, no car parking, and overdevelopment.

Residents have said in their comments that Watford needs family homes rather than flats. One comment read: "This would be, without a doubt, [be a] complete overdevelopment in this road.

"There are too many flats being built everywhere, in every available space it seems. There is much more need for family homes with gardens which would give people a better quality of life."

Screenshot of the initial proposal which would involve a rear extension to the new building. DLA says this has been reduced in size in light of the council's refusal

Others say the four parking spaces being provided is "inadequate" while some have described the proposed building as "out of keeping" with the neighbouring Edwardian properties.

A spokesperson for DLA Town Planning said: "We have submitted a revised application which included a reduction in bulk at first-floor level and which we believe addresses the council's previous reasons for refusal.

"Whilst we acknowledge there is still some local concern, the proposal is considered to result in a high-quality development that provides much needed housing to the local area."

Screenshot of the new building of seven flats as first submitted to the council. Credit: DLA Town Planning

The 24-bedroom Hillside Rest shut as a care home in 2020 with a letter from the owner stating it had been running successfully for 26 years before occupancy rates began falling from 2017 to eventually below 40 per cent.

The letter, published in DLA's planning statement, added it was not "viable" to keep running the home due to "competition with several state-of-the-art" care homes opening in the surrounding area.

The former care home is still being marketed by Rightmove with offers in excess of £1.9 million.

The revised application can be found on the council's planning portal via reference 22/00440/FUL.