A secondary school in Watford that initially planned to build a four-storey extension has halved the size in new proposals to be heard by the council's planning committee tonight.

Watford University Technical College was to seek permission to reduce the size of the proposed western extension from four storeys to two storeys and amend how it would infill the car park underneath the development at ground level.

The UTC applicant, Meller Educational Trust, and it’s partner University of Hertfordshire, also sought permission to re-site the main entrance.

Planning officers recommended the new proposals be granted permission for the school in Colonial Way, after the secondary made a financial contribution towards a consultation with residents regarding the introduction of ‘commuter’ waiting restrictions on Radlett Road and the residential roads to the north of the site.

Watford UTC, which will provide secondary level education for 14 to 19-year-old students, is due to have 600 students and a staff of 75 when it is up to full capacity.

Residents had previously objected to the four-storey extension suggesting the college should be located where there is adequate parking for staff and older students as Eastfield Avenue already suffers from commuter parking.