Councillors have slammed the government for “ignoring local concerns” after it forced through a tower block in the heart of town.

On Friday (May 24) the Planning Inspectorate granted an appeal against Watford Borough Council’s refusal to give permission for 89 flats to be built on top of Wellstones Car Park, between Exchange Road and Wellstones.

The executive agency said the impact on neighbours’ light and the visual dominance of the design were not as bad as the council had made out and therefore the development was acceptable.

Watford Observer: How the flats will look from the ring road, shown by the arrow.How the flats will look from the ring road, shown by the arrow. (Image: Telereal Trillium)

Liberal Democrat councillor Glen Saffery said: "Once again the government has decided to ignore local concerns and force inappropriate development on Watford.

“Councillors and officers scrutinised this proposal closely and decided to refuse it.”

He said that the decision was based on the impact on existing residents as well as Grade I-listed Holy Rood Church.

The development management committee member also claimed it lacked the affordable housing or other contributions to offset its impacts.

Cllr Saffery added: “We need a planning system that respects the wishes of local residents and delivers affordable housing and infrastructure to support growth in line with our local policy.

“Sadly, under the Conservatives we continue to have the complete opposite where central government rides a roughshod over local decision making.”

Following the decision, developer Telereal Securitised GP Limited now has permission to build 89 self-contained flats and a flexible commercial unit on the ground floor.

The building heights would range between five and eight storeys.

Labour councillor Nigel Bell, who is also a member of the committee, called the judgment “disappointing to say the least”, for Watford residents.

Watford Observer: Cllr Nigel Bell.Cllr Nigel Bell.

“They see a Conservative government through their inspection regime sweep aside the genuine worries from residents about planning and how it affects their town,” he said.

“While we desperately need the right affordable homes in the right place, this Wellstones decision simply brushes aside any local discretion from councillors.”

The Watford Labour group leader also called for change to the existing planning regime.

Although both parties on the committee blamed the government, Watford's Conservative MP Dean Russell claimed the borough council could have done more to control development in the town.

He said: “Watford Liberal Democrats have run the council for a number of years and have had ample opportunity to shape Watford's local plan to reflect the overwhelming views of local residents.

Watford Observer: Watford MP Dean Russell.Watford MP Dean Russell. (Image: Dean Russell MP)

“I wrote to all councillors explaining that they could amend the local plan and detailing how the changes could benefit Watford, but they chose not to amend it and voted it through.

“Liberal Democrats are on record as saying that they are committed to providing as many homes as possible, so I find their opposition to many planning applications a little disingenuous, as it does not match their party line.”

Telereal Securitised GP Limited has been contacted for comment.