Objections submitted to Watford's Biskra extra floor plans

In the August 25 planning application, Biskra Developments asked to take the Biskra flats in Langley Road, Nascot Wood, from three to four floors and therefore gain six two-bedroom flats overall.

Since the application, 29 objections have been made online and no one has said they are in favour of the development.

If approved, the extra floor would be built on top of the existing build. (Image: Planning Insight/Watford Borough Council planning portal)

A resident of Biskra flats condemned the build because he believed it would cause a disturbance to him and other residents.

He added: “I have mental health issues and work from home most days, my son who also suffers with his mental health lives between here and his mother's - he will likely not be able to stay if severe noise and disruption is ongoing due to his sensory issues.”

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People objecting to the build also highlighted that since the pandemic many people now work from home and described the proposed works as a “nightmare”.

Another resident said she is against the plans because it does not include car parking and believes the extra floor will result in a “very bulky massing, which will be a large boxy form”.

The current look of the Biskra flats (Image: Google Street View)

An increase in traffic was also cited by several people as a reason they objected the application.

One person was also concerned that the build work would prevent children playing in the communal gardens.

Someone who lives near the block of flats raised concerns about how it would affect the surrounding area and was concerned about “noise pollution” on people who live nearby.

In the application, the developer outlines that the proposed plans of the building are comparable or smaller in height than neighbouring properties.

It added: “The design respects the character of the area whilst maintaining existing boundary distances from neighbouring properties.”

The planning statement also said that the “design of the scheme will not impact on natural daylight to the existing flats or surrounding properties” and that “wherever possible existing trees of value are retained”.

It added: “The building has been carefully and sensitively designed to provide high quality development that responds positively to the local context and scale.”

Biskra Developments declined to comment.