More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for a scheme of 1,000 plus homes and a 28 storey tower to be stopped.

The petition was created just days after Watford Borough Council's planning committee granted permission to redevelop the TK Maxx and The Range site in St Albans Road.

Creator Allen Berry-Simmons, who lives in nearby Regent Street, says he had no idea about the scheme until it was approved on December 16.

Watford Observer:

A birdseye view of the approved scheme

He said: "My husband told me about it. I immediately thought there was going to be nowhere to park. Then I thought about how bad the roads were, how overcrowding was getting worse every year, the doctors surgeries. It's a huge development that will have an impact on everything. The size is insane."

He launched a petition, 'Stop building works at the TK Maxx/The Range site', almost immediately, and it gained hundreds of signatures straight away.

Mr Berry-Simmons, 31, continued: "I am surprised by the number of people who have signed it. People have contacted me saying well done for starting the petition. We want as many people as possible to sign and we want people to make some noise."

Watford Observer:

A view from Watford Junction

Watford Observer:

A view from Radlett Road

After six Liberal Democrat councillors gave Berkley Homes' plans the green light, Mr Berry-Simmons accused the council of "having no backbone".

He said: "The council has not listened. There were 160 objections. I understand it has government housing targets to meet but they should have put their foot down more. They should have had more of a backbone."

Responding to the accusation, mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: "The government said at the last election that they wanted 300,000 new homes to be built (nationally) and that they would be ‘breathing down the necks’ of councils to make sure this happened.

"This development is a direct consequence of this government’s policies. The government have tripled our housing target (almost 800 per year) with no thought the impact new developments will have on our roads, schools, train stations or doctors surgeries. It is ridiculous that councils are unable to insist on improvements to infrastructure before developments.

"The government must give councils the powers they need to turn down inappropriate applications and cut our totally unrealistic housing target. We need the powers to insist on realistic developments with the right infrastructure for our town. Decisions about the future of our town should be made by people in our town and not forced on us."

Watford Observer:

Peter Taylor

Eleven towers will be built by Berkeley Homes on the site of the current retail park, which backs onto Watford Junction.

They will range from eight to 28 storeys in height. Alongside 1,214 homes, the long-term St Albans Road scheme will deliver a primary school and nursery.

Watford Observer:

CGI of the primary school

There is also an agreement for Berkeley Homes to make a financial contribution of around £1 million to GP and secondary school provision in the area.

A little over 200 parking spaces are proposed and the number of affordable homes will be 107 – representing 8.8 per cent of the total number of homes.

Pre-development director Daniel Massie said he was "delighted" by the council's decision to pass the plans.

He added: "We understand that local people have concerns about the height of the buildings. Working with all consultees, we have given careful consideration to the location of tall buildings within the masterplan.

"This is to ensure they have minimal impact on the surrounding area, by locating them on the eastern boundary of the site and away from existing properties off St Albans Road."

The petition can be found by clicking here.