A Watford housing association is planning to build 30 new homes on the site of a former police station in north Watford.

Watford Community Housing Trust is proposing to convert the former North Watford Police Station into 10 three-bedroom family homes and a block of 20 two-bedroom flats.

The trust agreed the terms of purchase of the site and is currently working with architectural consultants on designs for a new housing development in place of the old police buildings.

The proposals are still being finalised while the trust consults with Leavesden residents, with a view to submitting a planning application by the end of July.

The trust is hoping to gain planning consent in October.

The properties would be a mixture of homes for shared ownership sale and affordable rent, with 16 of the flats to be affordable rented, and the houses and remaining four flats to be shared ownership.

A report said the trust had three key priorities for the development, including that it would "match the character of the local area and respond to the flow of the existing houses".

In addition, the "potential for additional height away from neighbouring homes, next to large open space on the highway".

Lastly, to "reconnect the site with its context through pedestrian and cycle access routes".

The report said: "Watford Community Housing Trust's vision is to create 30 new affordable homes which are integrated into the local community through pedestrian and cycle links to Leveret Close, whilst maintaining separate car access from the Kingsway North Orbital Road.

"The houses are designed to be low maintenance using traditional construction materials including brick and tile, deliver bigger and better living accommodation economic to heat and light by their tenants through their modern sustainable construction."

The trust said the site is currently "derelict" and that the development would reduce Watford's housing shortage.

Gareth Lewis, director of partnerships at Watford Community Housing Trust, said: "We have an opportunity to replace the redundant police buildings with new affordable homes for local people, which are so desperately needed to reduce our housing shortage.

"We have been talking to local residents about our proposals and we are looking to see how we can incorporate their comments as we finalise our plans."

The trust’s outline proposals are available to view on its website at www.wcht.org.uk/northwatfordpolicestation.

It would welcome any comments on the proposals to the project manager Patrick O'Sullivan at patrick.o'sullivan@wcht.org.uk or on 01923 209223.