Plans for nine family homes on old Mothercare site to be decided

Nine four-bedroom homes are proposed to be built in Cherry Tree Road in North Watford.

Each home would be two storeys and come with its own parking space and back garden.

A detached house would be demolished to make way for the new houses.

Read more: Proposal for 94 flats at factory site set to get green light

The detached house in Cherry Tree Road that would be demolished (Image: Google Street View)

The application will be considered by Watford Borough Council’s planning committee at a meeting on November 1.

Applications under ten homes are usually decided by a council planning officer but because more than five objections have been made, councillors will have the final say.

In total, 14 objections have been received after 43 letters were sent to neighbours.

Concerns raised include extra traffic, not enough parking being provided, and the homes being “out of place” with the semi-detached properties in the area.

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A screenshot from the planning portal of a CGI of the proposal (Image: HGH Consulting via Watford Borough Council planning portal)

A council officer has concluded the proposal would not have an “harmful” impact on surrounding properties, adding nine family houses are “welcomed” in this residential neighbourhood.

Therefore, he is recommending the planning committee approve the application.

No affordable housing is being proposed – as the application is under ten homes, there is no requirement for applicant Permitted Development Investment No. 10 Ltd to provide any affordable housing.

Planning agent HGH Consulting says its client’s plan will contribute to the council’s housing delivery, which is currently in “serious shortfall”.

It added: “Additionally, it provides an effective and efficient use of previously developed land in a suitable residential location, helping to minimise development of green belt and important green, open spaces elsewhere in the borough.”

The former Mothercare headquarters which is primed to become flats (Image: Newsquest)

The applicant is due to pay just under £200,000 in community infrastructure levy to the council, which is funding to help deliver infrastructure needed to support new development.

The development site forms part of the former Mothercare headquarters site.

The T-shaped office building is in the process of being extended and converted to provide 145 flats and 103 parking spaces.

An outline of the former Mothercare headquarters site (Image: Google Maps)

A warehouse has recently been sold to Cinch Storage for £9 million - there are plans to renovate the “incredibly desirable location” into a "first-class" self-storage site in 2023.