A group of neighbours were left feeling “devastated” after planning permission was granted for a trio of ‘back garden’ houses. 

Watford Borough Council approved the development in Lower Paddock Road, Oxhey, in spite of strong opposition from those who live nearby.

The development management committee, which voted by a majority of one, noted that the developers had addressed the initial issues surrounding size and design.

And despite it being part of a conservation area, the chairman of the committee, Peter Jeffree, said he did not see “how they could do any harm at all”.

But those who had campaigned against the building were quick to disagree and believe it will set a dangerous precedent in the region.

Oxhey resident Kim Baxter said: “We’re very unhappy with the decision and feel as if Watford Borough Council has decided to ignore the local community.

“The design is completely out of character for the area yet we’re not even allowed to change the colours of our front doors.

“And it will pave the way for the destruction of Oxhey conservation area, which is characterised by these long back gardens.

“The whole village just feels desperate, it seems as if it’s been rushed through and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

She added that she and her neighbours were not against additional housing and are keen to see the area grow.

But she stressed that this must be done in “appropriate” places and should involve genuine consultation between residents and the council.

The decision to approve the houses came after the developers drastically altered their original application; lowering the height of the buildings and totally redesigning them to be, in their view, more in keeping with the surrounding area.

It was a point supported by Cllr Sohail Bashir, who said the design had moved from “televisions on the front of houses” to something much more suitable.

But Cllr Peter Taylor said the designs had “gone from really bad to just bad” and that it was a case of “cramming too much in”.