Furious residents have slammed plans for a “monstrous Soviet-style” eight-storey block of flats they say would destroy Watford’s skyline.

Developer Heronslea has submitted an application to demolish the former job centre offices at Caledonian House to build 95 flats with parking spaces.

The site, at 39 St Albans Road, would also house a communal garden and private balcony amenity space if plans are given the green light by Watford Borough Council.

People living nearby say they do not object to the site being developed, but the height of the proposed building would obscure their view and destroy the town’s skyline.

Alex Kent has lived in Malden Road for 30 years. The 70-year-old said: “This is a monstrous overdevelopment and cannot go ahead.

“We cannot believe the scale of it. The ability of residents on upper floors to overlook our house is a serious concern to us.

“The style and colour scheme are that of a throwback to the Stalinist era.

“This would set an awful precedent in the town for terrible developments.”

The flats would be made up of two and three bedrooms. Other concerns include traffic congestion in the area, school place provision and the development blocking light coming in to their homes.

Ralph Darvill submitted an objection to the council. He said: “As a resident of Nascot Street, a part of a conservation area, I am flabbergasted by the scale of this proposal.

“It is too high. Just as Sentinel House blighted the lives and property values of the residents of St John’s Rd, this building will do the same to the residents of the lower end of Malden Rd, impinging on privacy, blocking out light and just being ridiculously scaled in a low rise Victorian-era residential area.

"Please send this back to the developers with a big red ‘refused’ stamp on it.”

Nascot councillor Mark Hoffman said he had received complaints about the application.

He said: “This sickening monstrous overdevelopment is the biggest planning application that Nascot Wood has seen in years.

“Although many residents I have spoken too concede that the site is brownfield land the sheer size and scale of the application is totally out of character in the area.

“If approved, it will dwarf the neighbouring properties in the Nascot Conservation area and leave some residents' gardens with no direct sunlight.”

Eight per cent of the flats built would be affordable. The proposal will be discussed at a planning committee meeting next month.

What do you think of the application? Comment below or email charlotte.ikonen@london.newsquest.co.uk.