Plans to demolish a house near Northwood to make way for 17 new flats have now been unanimously approved by Three Rivers Council's planning committee.

A previous application for 18 flats to replace Cedar House in Sandy Lane was rejected earlier this month after a raft of “overdevelopment” objections.

Prior to officers issuing the initial decision, the agent - Mohsin Cooper - contacted the council and supplied officers with revised plans and additional information.

This has included drawings proposing a material change to the scheme to provide an additional parking space.

Subsequently, the plans were returned to the planning committee on August 15, who were satisfied that plans would no longer be an overdevelopment. 

Cllr Diana Barber spoke against the plans on behalf of Batchworth Community Council. She said: "Batchworth Community Council's continuing position is that this is an overdevelopment and that there should be a further reduction in the number of units.

"BCC has worked hard on the scrutiny of these plans and the amended plans show that officers have recognised all our work and have taken on board the many concerns raised."

She acknowledged that concerns around the safety of the access to the stairwell was addressed with the amended plans, and that the new site and tree survey were more acceptable.

However, she said the shared amenity space was not as BCC "would wish".

That said, the community council found no other objections to refuse the plans.