A bid to demolish a guesthouse and replace it with a three-storey building of 16 flats has been turned down by Watford Borough Council.

The plans to knock down Ricky Road Guest House in Rickmansworth Road were unanimously refused by the planning committee at a meeting on Monday (March 14).

Committee members had been recommended to refuse Sameera Properties' application for a number of reasons.

In her report, planning officer Alice Reade highlighted concerns about the scheme's size and design and also pointed towards the lack of any affordable housing being offered, or a financial contribution to support affordable housing elsewhere in Watford.

No one was present at Monday's meeting to speak for or against the application, although 16 objections had been received from neighbours with concerns including, but not limited to, design and parking.

Six spaces were proposed for the scheme situated on the corner of Harwoods Road.

Park ward councillor Peter Kloss, who was standing in for his Lib Dem colleague Cllr Jenny Pattinson, said he supported the council officer's recommendation and suggested the developer should become back with a scheme that is "more reasonable and acceptable".

He added Watford is "crying out" for three bed properties - this scheme proposed one, with 12 two-beds and a single one-bed unit.

Labour member Cllr Nigel Bell also raised concerns about the application and it took the planning committee just a matter of minutes to decide to reject it.

The officer's full report and drawings of the proposal can be found via the meeting agenda.