Councillors have raised concern over developments in Watford being approved with a “disappointing” lack of affordable housing.

The issue was brought up at a development management committee meeting at Watford Town Hall on Wednesday - particularly as nobody spoke in objection.

The council’s housing policy requirement of 35 per cent social housing in all schemes of 10 units or more.

However, plans to demolish the existing buildings on the land to the rear of Ye Corner, in Chalk Hill, Bushey, were approved on Wednesday despite developers saying they were unable to provide a financial contribution towards affordable housing being built.

Cllr Matt Turmaine said during the meeting said it was disappointing as people in Watford “need affordable housing”.

Cllr Stephen Johnson said: “We are not being offered affordable housing and are only being offered half of the correct amount.”

The site currently comprises an irregular-shaped parcel of land located to the north west of the junction where Chalk Hill meets Aldenham Road and situated behind numbers 1-11 Ye Corner and numbers 44 and 46 Aldenham Road.

Developer KGS CGMS plan to build two buildings – one being part two storey and part three storey and containing 11 flats.

The other building will be two storey and will contain four flats.

Laguna Properties Ltd also plan to revamp a vacant two storey industrial building located on the south-eastern side of Aldenham Road, close to the junction with Pinner Road, in Oxhey.

The site adjoins a terrace of two storey houses and also the listed Railway Arms public house, with Bushey Station a short distance away.

A new three storey building will provide 15 flats comprising four one-bed and 11 two-bed units, along with an integral bin store and cycle parking.

A viability review revealed that around £322,000 will be put towards the provision of affordable housing in the borough from the developers.

Watford Borough Council also approved plans to renovate and repair Frogmore House and garden, a Grade II listed building which was built in 1716, but fell into disrepair by the 1990s.

In addition to the restoration, the site will see 92 new flats and a Lidl supermarket built next door to the house to provide jobs and homes for the area.

There will be a commuted payment of £750,000 towards the provision of affordable housing due to the restoration costing £2million.

The Observer asked Watford Borough Council how it will ensure home prices in Watford are realistic for local people.

Cllr Iain Sharpe has since said the developers for the sites in Ye Corner and Aldenham Road have been “strongly challenged”.

He said: “We are not prepared for schemes to go ahead without a contribution towards affordable housing.

“This is difficult under current government planning rules as developers can claim that the viability of their scheme means they cannot make a contribution. However, we held our ground on these schemes and won the battle.

“For one, we are getting over £300,000 that will go directly to building affordable homes for Watford residents, which is great news. For Ye Corner we will be going back once it is finished to see whether the viability has improved – if it has we will be asking for a financial contribution from the developer. Frankly, we could be looking at no money coming forward, which is not acceptable so this is a good result.”