After already receiving permission to knock down a former homeless hostel for six flats, a developer is trying its luck with plans for nine.

Watford Borough Council approved a planning application to demolish 41 Aldenham Road, near Bushey train station and replace it with six homes in May last year, but the demolition has not yet gone ahead.

Yesterday (February 8), an updated plan was submitted following a redesign “to make the scheme viable and of interest to the market”, according to attached documents.

The plan adds: “The scheme adds little volume to the building and still retains the scale and mass similar to that of the approved scheme.”

Where the approved plan laid out three two-bedroom homes and three one-bedrooms, the new one asks for permission for two two-bedrooms and seven one-bedrooms.

The site is currently vacant and was last used as a hostel for homeless people.

Watford Observer: 41 Aldenham Road in 2012.41 Aldenham Road in 2012. (Image: Google Street View)

According to statements submitted with both plans “the existing building lacks any design merit and appears to be in poor condition”.

The applicant says that there is a “generous” area of vacant land around the current building, some of which would be used for the new flats.

The latest plans are again “car-free” and are currently “pending consideration”.