An appeal to demolish a sheltered housing complex and replace it with social housing has been dismissed - but not before all but one of the former residents packed up and left.

The Hightown Praetorian & Churches Housing Association (HPCHA) appealed after Three Rivers District Council rejected plans to demolish the Morningside development in Rickmansworth.

Today the Government's Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal after a visit to the site at the corner of Uxbridge and Nightingdale Road, on April 20.

However, despite being disappointed, Emma Crump from the HPCHA said the organisation planned to review the application and resubmit new plans within six months.

The block was home to 19 mostly elderly tenants, who lived in modest single rooms with shared bathrooms.

HPCHA applied for permission last summer to demolish the block and build 19 one and two-bedroom flats on the basis that it needed renovation.

The district council decided unanimously to reject the plans in September, criticising the scheme for its poor design and overbearing impact on surrounding properties.

This delighted neighbours who believed the new tenants would bring more noise, rowdiness and traffic congestion.

A residents’ action group of more than 30 members, supported by Rickmansworth county councillor Barbara Lamb, also voiced anger after learning that elderly residents had been persuaded to leave their homes with cash incentives from HPCHA.

Councillor Lamb, said: “I am very concerned about the elderly people who were living there. They [HPCHA] should have waited until they got permission before they started turning out elderly residents.”

The housing association then lodged an appeal against the decision, but the Government’s Planning Inspectorate threw it out on the basis that the development would affect the character and appearance of the two surrounding conservation areas.

Inspector Janet Cheesley also noted the negative effect on the provision of social and community facilities and affordable housing.

Councillor Lamb added: “What we had here was a close and successful community. These people should have already made their last moves but are now left to apply for new homes - and are likely to be taken away from their friends.

“I was told that all but one of the tenants have already left. People move in and think they'll be there for the rest of their lives.”