Pre-application plans for a former school site have been revealed as the developer says the full 70-home proposal is due "in the coming weeks".

Little Furze Primary School in Gosforth Lane, South Oxhey, shut down in 2004 and was left derelict under 24-hour security until it was demolished in 2022.

A portion of the site is being retained by Hertfordshire County Council to provide a 75-bed nursing care home for older people, while the remainder is set to be used for 70 homes.

Watford Observer: Diagram of the homes' sustainable features.Diagram of the homes' sustainable features. (Image: Taylor Wimpey)

Both projects were granted outline approval in 2018 but, while construction of the care home is already underway, the housing development has still not had a full detailed proposal signed-off by Three Rivers District Council.

Yesterday (April 24), construction company Taylor Wimpey invited South Oxhey residents to a drop-in session to study a preview of the final plans soon to be submitted.

A quarter of the homes (18) will be for affordable housing and there will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses together with one and two-bedroom apartments positioned nearer Gosforth Lane.

Watford Observer: The care home portion of the site in November.The care home portion of the site in November. (Image: Hertfordshire County Council)

Taylor Wimpey said “a high proportion” will be family sized houses, with a smaller amount of apartments proposed. Each property will have parking and there will also be additional visitor parking.

The “sustainable” buildings will have electric vehicle charging points, solar panels, and triple glazing and be designed to complement the contemporary look of the care home.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson said: “We would like to thank everyone who attended our public information event to view the plans for our proposed development on land at the former Little Furze Primary School in South Oxhey.

Watford Observer: The pre-application proposed site plan.The pre-application proposed site plan. (Image: Taylor Wimpey)

“The local community is important to us, and we are committed to keeping local residents and businesses informed of the proposed plans for the site.”

Residents with queries or issues to raise can email planning@ridge.co.uk until May 3 to make them known before the full planning application is submitted “in the coming weeks”.

Bob Maddox, who lives on the road, said he was glad to see the former school site being brought back into use after it was left derelict for so long.

“I think the community is pleased to see progress is being made about building the new flats and the care home,” he added.

Watford Observer: The site as proposed in the outline application.The site as proposed in the outline application. (Image: Taylor Wimpey)