Could plans for another 300 homes or so in Ascot Road have an impact on housing in other parts of the town?

According to Watford Borough Council, it won't, because the extra homes are needed if the council is to meet its housing targets.

This week, we learnt Cortland wants to add another 311 properties to the 485 it is already building at its development Cortland Cassiobury.

The company has eyed up land near Morrisons as well as between the dual carriageway leading into the business parks and its current building site.

However, these 311 homes are far higher than what has been allocated in Watford Borough Council's draft local plan which is currently being examined by the Planning Inspectorate.

Two sites, east and west of Ascot Road - and which appear to be the same sites Cortland has highlighted - were allocated for 70 homes altogether by the council, but Cortland is proposing 241 more than that.

Related: Plans unveiled for 311 more homes in Ascot Road in Watford

The council's controversial local plan earmarks land to meet Government housing targets of 784 a year up until 2028 and 61 sites are threatened by development.

But if 241 extra homes are to be built in Ascot Road, does that open the door to the council saving other land that is has deemed suitable to build on to meet targets?

Having gone to the council with this query, it appears the answer is no.

The council says its local plan allocations for 2021-2038 work out at around 626 homes per year, with the remaining 158 a year needed coming forward as windfall on sites not identified in the plan or by developments in the plan growing larger, such as Cortland's scheme in Ascot Road.

Whether every site in the local plan is actually developed is another question but it appears so far, the inspectorate believes the sites put forward to comply with national planning policy.

Cllr Stephen Johnson, who has responsibilities for planning, property and housing in Watford, said: "Watford remains under significant pressure to deliver housing. The Government has set us an annual target to build just under 800 homes a year homes from the sites identified in the Local Plan, from new sites or by increased density of developments that are put forward as in the case of the Cortland proposal for Ascot Road.

"Currently Watford is delivering just against the target. Proposals for higher density developments are evaluated fairly against national and local policy frameworks - not all sites are suitable and our key criteria is sustainability - places that are well connected to schools, transport and other services.

"Demand for homes remains at an all-time high both locally and nationally and we must do what we can to support local people into housing."