The Ministry of Defence has announced it would sell off officers quarters in Bushey, but added it was unlikely the resulting homes would be "low cost".

Plagued by vandalism, and criticised for being left empty, the properties, in Harcourt Road, are to be handed to Annington Homes, the largest private owner of residential properties in the country.

Responding to the question of whether the properties could be used to reduce Hertsmere's shortage in affordable housing, Pragati Baddhan, of Defence Estates, the housing branch of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), said this was unlikely.

She said: "The Harcourt Road properties it Bushey are to be handed back to Anningtons in 2008. As they are officers quarters it is unlikely that they will be considered low cost."

There are around 1,400 people currently waiting for accommodation in Hertsmere. This week, Hertsmere Borough Council said the situation would be helped by a £2million increase in funding by the Housing Corporation.

The funding has been awarded to registered social landlords, William Sutton Homes.

Ms Baddhan added that the recent redevelopment of former MOD flats in Girtin Road, Munro Road and Gulland Close, near the Harcourt Road houses, would help the affordable housing shortage.

On January 22, Paddington Churches Housing Association gained permission to demolish the current flats and build 48 houses and 142 flats.

A Hertsmere Borough Council spokesperson said affordable housing would be provided across the borough using the Housing Corporation funding, adding that final details will be subject to plans and planning permissions.