It was case of déjà vu for Watford’s planning department as an application to turn town centre offices into flats was rejected for a fifth time.

The latest application, submitted on December 11, would have allowed a developer to turn 41 Market Street into eight homes under permitted development rights.

That is one fewer than had been proposed in September 2021, April 2022, August 2022, and February 2023, which were all shot down by Watford Borough Council.

Despite including one fewer flat than the nine from previous proposals, the council again ruled that some were not big enough.

Permitted development rights do not authorise a development that does not meet the Nationally Described Space Standard and units 3, 7, and 8 apparently did not have either built-in storage or sufficient gross internal floor area.

Watford Observer: The office building is located to the rear of Market Street shops.The office building is located to the rear of Market Street shops. (Image: Google Street View)

A second reason for refusal was that it failed to provide “adequate natural light in all habitable rooms”.

Although one fewer flat was proposed, the reconfiguration included more two-bedroom homes, meaning it would house an extra person overall (13) compared with the last plan.

Previously, the council was not convinced that the applicant had demonstrated what previous uses for the building had been, but more evidence was provided this time and the decision did not reference this as an issue.