Three Rivers District councillors deferred the decision on whether or not to allow 42 apartments to be built in Rickmansworth High Street.

The scheme involves knocking down the offices at 3 and 3a, to make way for 28 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom sheltered apartments for the elderly, plus parking and landscaping, by the applicant Churchill Retirement Living, as reported in the Watford Observer in May.

A previous application for 42 flats was set to be rejected in June, mainly due to the loss of a silver birch tree in the High Street, but the applicant withdrew before it could be discussed in order to submit plans which did not affect the tree.

At a meeting tonight a new application was presented to councillors, who were concerned about the design of the building and parking provision, as only one parking space to three apartments will be provided.

Andrew Burgess, of Churchill Retirement Living, explained that because “the average occupant is a 78-year-old widow”, the levels of car ownership were expected to be very low.

Councillor Ann Shaw said: “The people who buy these flats aren't going to be in decay, they are going to have cars, where are they going to park them?

“I can't say I'm very moved by the design which is disappointing, it's only a marginal improvement on what is there now.”

The existing office buildings have been vacant for some time and have not attracted any interest. The only previous planning applications were for the installation a satellite antenna and a roof extension.

Councillor Paula Hiscocks echoed concerns about the design of the building.

She said: “We have an opportunity to build something really nice here. Concrete roof tiles and plastic windows are not worthy of a conservation area.

This was the fifth planning application to be delayed at tonight's development and control meeting.

Geoffrey Dunne, chairman of the committee, said: “With this number of site visits and deferrals, the next meeting might end at two in the morning.”