Designs for five new detached houses to be built in a leafy area of Watford have been approved.

Watford Borough Council's development control committee had rejected plans to build the houses, on land at 53 and to the rear of 53-61 Nascot Wood Road and the rear of 12 Ridge Lane in September 2008.

However, the application from Borras Construction Limited was subsequently approved by a planning inspector in February 2009.

Details of the layout, the scale of the houses and access were all included in the inspector's permission, but the appearance of the houses and landscaping was reserved for later approval.

Last night (Thursday), the committee approved the “traditional” design of the two-storey houses, which will be built using a “rich red multi-stock brick with an orange stock brick for the brick detailing”.

Planning officers said the design and materials to be used were “appropriate and acceptable for this location and will complement the character and appearance of existing houses”.

Boundary trees will also be retained on the site.