24-storey tower on former TJX Watford HQ site refused

The planning committee at Watford Borough Council unanimously turned down a proposal for the former TJX site in Clarendon Road at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Applicant Vedose Ltd wanted to create 247 rented homes along with 4,800sq m of office space in buildings of five, seven, 17 and 24 storeys, with 79 parking spaces.

It comes after previous plans for a building of 17 floors were approved.

The council’s planning officer had recommended the committee refuse the latest scheme, highlighting concerns about the design of the building, the size of some of the homes, and the lack of social housing.

Committee members agreed with the officers’ views – chairman Cllr Peter Jeffree reportedly came up with as many as 21 reasons why approval should not be granted.

Read more: Why was 24 storey tower recommended for refusal?

Read more: Plans for 24 storey tower branded as 'greedy'

The former TJX HQ that would be demolished. Plans for a building of 17 storeys has previously been approved (Image: Newsquest)

Central ward Liberal Democrat councillor Rabi Martins told the Watford Observer after the meeting why he voted to refuse.

He said: “If you want to go higher, the design needs to be extra special. This one wasn’t.

“And the quality of the living accommodation was also of concern. For me it was not good. Just because they are building to rent doesn’t mean they can go for poorer standards than if they were to sell them.

“Someone living there should feel relaxed, not cooped in.”

The planning officer’s report said some of the properties would fail to meet space standards.

Cllr Martins added: “There was a total absence of social housing. Developers continue to use this stupid viability clause, which I think is a cop-out.”

Read more: Revised plans for offices at 25-storey tower development approved

CGI of the proposal, as seen from St Johns Road. Image: Vedose Ltd (Image: Vedose Ltd)

Fellow committee member Cllr Nigel Bell was also unimpressed by the proposal.

The Labour group leader said: “I think the chairman said there could be 21 [refusal] reasons. It is an employment site and this scheme was providing less employment space than what was there before.

“But also the massing on that corner of St Johns Road didn’t look right and it would have affected the Estcourt Road conservation area.

“I certainly couldn’t support it. I had to agree with the officer report.”

Vedose has been approached for comment.

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