Politicians tonight increased the council's ability to stop developers from converting offices to flats.

Developers have applied to convert 22 office blocks in Three Rivers into more than 550 flats since 2013.

They are utilising government rules which means they can convert them without achieving full planning permission and there are limited grounds for refusal.

But Three Rivers District Council agreed to introduce rules which mean industrial estates in Tolpits Lane, Denham Way in Maple Cross, or Croxley Green Business Park, cannot be changed without full planning permission.

But representatives for Rickmansworth called for the town to be included before it becomes “a dormitory town”.

Cllr Paula Hiscocks, who represents Rickmansworth Town, said: “Out of the 22 businesses that have been lost, 15 of them are in Rickmansworth.

“They are falling like stones and developers see the potential of developing businesses into very lucrative properties.

“I know there is a risk the application to the secretary of state may be turned down, but if we do not try, we will never know.

“Developers are targeting this area because it is one of the most profitable areas for residential properties and this is evidenced by the number of applications that have been received.”

Cllr Ralph Sangster, leader of the Conservative Group in Three Rivers, said: “What has changed since the chamber of commerce and the residents association in Rickmansworth proposed this two years ago?

“A balanced economy in Rickmansworth is essential to support the retail.

“If you wait for signs to go up saying it is failing, the policy has failed.”

The council will now apply to the secretary of state for an article four direction.

Renato Messere, head of economics and sustainability at Three Rivers District Council, warned including Rickmansworth in the application could weaken its position.

He said: “We have had over 20 properties that have had applications, only seven of them have been in the centre of Rickmansworth.

“It is difficult to justify the smaller areas because Rickmansworth isn’t even mentioned in the South West Hertfordshire Economic Study as an area of strategic economic importance.”

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst warned the centre of Rickmansworth did not meet the criteria because 95 per cent of the properties were taken.

The policy and resources committee decided to review whether the proposal would be relevant in Rickmansworth and Leavesden, where there are vast amounts of offices near Warner Bros. Studios, each year.

Cllr Ann Shaw told the committee: “I actually think Rickmansworth High Street is doing quite well. It is doing a lot better than a lot of other areas.

“We are lucky other people want to take over these properties.

“The greatest threat to the high street is online shopping.”