Proposals have been submitted to demolish a North Bushey office building to make way for more than 100 flats.

Clearview Homes has applied to Hertsmere Borough Council to build 102 flats at Elton House, in Elton Way.

The applicant seeks to nearly treble the number of parking spaces available. There are now 60 spaces and the application is looking to increase this to 172. 

There will also be 102 cycle spaces if the application is approved.

Elton House, which backs onto Costco car park and is located opposite the Hilton Hotel, stands vacant along the busy North Western Avenue.

Clearview Homes is seeking permission to turn the empty building into 102 flats with private balconies and terraces.

If the applicant is successful then new three-storey and five-storey blocks of flats will be built.

In a pre-application advice report, Hertsmere’s’ planning officer, Maria Demetri, said: "The key issue at this stage of the pre-application is the quantum of development, built form, heights, mass and size and whether appropriate to the site, with  importantly abuts the Green Belt."

The report goes on to explain: "The perimeter block layout of the scheme on this corner is welcomed as it would follow best practice advice and help to create a statement building on this key gateway site in an area that otherwise lacks strong and high quality character.

"Such a layout would, in the officer’s opinion, create a defined and defensible space on this corner. Given the location of the site there is a prime opportunity to make a landmark building."

The proposed building would include balconies fronting North Western Avenue, Hartspring Lane and the rear elevation. 

Parking will also be included in the scheme at the rear at basement and ground level, with a communal garden area at first floor level above.

The site is not in the Green Belt and has been empty since 2004.

In the pre-application report, officers state that there is no objection in principle to the site being developed for residential purposes, although the size and scale of the development will need to be taken into account.

The report continues: "The height of the proposal is not acceptable, it is required to be reduced down to be three storeys, four storeys and then rising to five storeys." 

Some of the flats will also need to be affordable.