Plans to build 18 flats on back garden land have been approved by a planning inspector, seven months after they were first rejected by Watford Borough Council.

The council's development control committee turned down an application by Visao Ltd to build two two-storey blocks of nine flats in the gardens of 263-267 Gammons Lane, Watford, in July last year.

But following the decision, Visao lodged an appeal with the government planning inspectorate, who overturned the council's decision in a judgement published on Monday.

The application created a considerable outrage among local residents, who were already campaigning against plans from the same developer to build on adjacent land at 154 Ridge Lane and at the rear of 271, 273 and 275 Gammons Lane.

That application, for 11 homes, was also rejected by the council but was later overturned by an inspector.

The developer then returned to the council with amended plans for six homes and three flats, which were approved at the same meeting this latest application was rejected.

In his judgement, Inspector Clive Tokley said the main issue to consider was the “effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area”.

And he decided that the proposal would “represent a natural extension of the residential development already permitted”.

Mr Tokley said: “I have considered the many objections from nearby residents that draw attention to a range of issues.

“However, none of these are of sufficient weight to deflect me from the conclusion that the proposal would represent an acceptable form of residential development that would make efficient use of land within an urban area and would not unacceptably detract from the character and appearance of the area.”

Last month, councillors who sit on Watford's development control committee expressed “very serious concerns” about planning appeal decisions, after an “alarmingly high” number of rejections were overturned.

Committee chairman councillor Alan Burtenshaw said: “We are dismayed that when we turn down developments that we believe will be an eyesore, we find the Government’s planning inspectors overturn our decisions at a later date when the developers appeal.

“By failing to support the council’s policies, the Planning Inspectorate decisions are undermining our efforts to improve the quality of the built environment in Watford.”