The Government has admitted it will learn lessons after plans for tiny, windowless flats were given the go-ahead.

Former Watford Mayor Baroness Dorothy Thornhill yesterday used an urgent question to the House of Lords to urge the Government to speed up its review of Permitted Development rights.

These rights meant developer ISE Investments did not need to apply for planning permission for 15 small flats - seven of which would have no windows - in a building in Wellstones in the town centre.

But it had to notify Watford Borough Council it was changing the use of a textiles unit from industrial to residential.

The developer won on appeal after the council nonetheless objected - saying the flats would be too small to qualify as housing.

Baroness Thornhill said: “Permitted Development rules make it far too easy for substandard accommodation to be approved without councils subjecting them to the proper checks.

“All homes should be fit for human habitation. Although I welcome the government’s intention to review Permitted Development rules they should do this urgently.

“Everyone needs a home, but they must have one that meets basic safety standards. I’ll continue to press the Government to change the law as quickly as possible.”

Responding to Baroness Thornhill’s comments, Minister Lord Young of Cookham (George Young) said the policy had led to “some very poor quality homes to come onto the market” and that the Government would “learn from the Watford case”.

The plans had been submitted in October, and Watford Borough Council objected to the proposal in December. It argued permitted development rights did not apply in the case of ISE Investment's plans because the proposed flats were "so small" it did not qualify as housing according to government standards. 

But on appeal, Government planning inspector Steve Rennie acknowledged earlier this month that the proposed units met the requirements of the general permitted development order (GDPO).

The flats - one of which was 16sq m - were well below the Government’s minimum size of 37sq m for small dwellings and they also lacked fire escapes.

But last month, ISE Investments submitted a notice of change of use to turn the building into nine flats rather than 15 - all of which would have windows. This will be considered by the council.

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: “We’ve made it very clear that it is not acceptable for people in Watford or elsewhere to live in tiny flats, without windows or even proper fire escapes. Applications like these should never have been approved by Government inspectors.

“I’m glad the Government agree that this a problem, but they must urgently review Permitted Development rights to make sure this can never happen again. Everyone deserves the dignity of living in a good quality home fit for the 21st Century.”