Plans to turn a shop into a two-bedroom house in Watford have been shot down for the second time.

The proposal submitted under permitted development for The Upholstery Workshop, 1 Orbital Crescent, was rejected by Watford Borough Council on Friday, March 8, after similar plans met the same fate on January 22.

In their application, the building owner argued that the street only had one shop left - a Costcutter - and that there was “no demand” for upholstery services in the area.

They added that the location was within walking distance to public transport and there would be less traffic if it was converted to housing. 

Planning officers said the applicant had responded to the previous reasons for refusal by adding additional storage space and showing that the unit had been empty for at least three months before submitting the application.

They also admitted that most of the other former commercial units in the terrace had been converted to residential flats.

Despite this, the council still rejected the plans as it included building works to the front and rear facades, which it said was not allowed under the permitted development rules.

The Upholstery Shop closed on the May 29, 2023, after 27 years, according to an email from the previous owner.

The email claimed that it closed because "it was no longer profitable to run a retail business in this area".