Developers have won planning permission to build three 'chalet bungalows' on land and back-gardens belonging to a single bungalow in Watford.

Ms L Burn submitted an application to Watford Borough Council to demolish the existing property at 92 Gade Avenue and erect three new homes, which include two four bedroom and one three-bedroom houses.

The site has a long planning history dating back to 2004 when the first application was submitted.

And Pat Dodge, who lives next to the land in question and owns the access road that leads to it, revealed this was the eighth application in six years, and sixth in four years by this particular developer.

Speaking at the council's development control committee on Thursday, she said: “The fact this again has reached the committee is testament to the passion residents have to maintain backgarden spaces. We feel strongly about developing urban green spaces and trust you do to.

“We would be faced with a concrete jungle. If you are ever minded to turn down a backgarden development, it should be this one.”

Mrs Dodge was supported by Councillors Bernadette Laventure and Malcolm Meerabux, who submitted written statements against the development.

Councillor Laventure said: “There have been numerous applications for this site and on each occasion, neighbouring properties have consistently objected. It shows the strength of local feeling.”

In May 2008, a planning inspector dismissed an appeal against the council's decision to reject plans for three chalet bungalows on the site, on the grounds that service vehicles would be unable to turn within the site, and because the access road was not part of the site, it was not possible to control visitor parking or provide a surface treatment that minimise noise and disturbance caused by the gravel path.

But in their report for this latest application, planning officers said these issues have been, or could be addressed.

During the council debate, Councillor George Derbyshire said: “I have been on the development control committee throughout the period where these various applications have come forward and I have always maintained the view that the intensification of the use of the site was not acceptable and out of character with that location.

“I haven't changed that view. I don't think it's appropriate.”

Councillor Iain Sharpe agreed.

“The inspector has allowed three houses on the site,” he said. “This is a development I would rather not take place but I'm struggling to find a planning reason that would turn it down, given that the inspector turned it down on certain conditions and those have been overcome.”

The application was approved, with six votes for and one abstention.

The development must still overcome one more hurdle, however, as a condition in the planning permission states that construction cannot take place until the access road has been upgraded – work Mrs Dodge told the committee she does not want.