An informal car park in Croxley Green, used by school pupils and neighbours, will be developed into new houses.

Outline planning permission for three new homes on the land in Scots Hill was granted by Three Rivers District Council this evening.

Hertfordshire County Council, which owns the small patch of land, has applied to build the terraced houses on the site next to Rickmansworth School.

A previous application for five units was dismissed in January this year on the basis that it represented an “over-development”.

Councillor Phil Brading said: “It is used as informal parking by older pupils at Rickmansworth School in the day time, and in the evenings and weekends by residents in adjoining houses, who have very little other off-street parking.

“I am concerned that residents might be forced to lose their informal off-street parking, and what will happen to the displaced parking?

“This could cause the council further costs, in yellow lines and parking schemes such as the one in Scots Hill Close, we must press Hertfordshire Highways much more fully when more detailed plans come in.”

Some neighbours have lodged objections, arguing the development will lower the value of their homes and make parking impossible.

Others argued that any children living in the houses would have an unfair advantage when it comes to applying for places at the school.

Council officers, however, said in a report that none of these objections held any legal weight and recommended that the outline application be approved.

Councillor Brading added: “It's difficult to find planning reasons why outline planning permission cannot be granted, three units fit much more comfortably on the site.”

The council's development control committee unanimously granted permission for the scheme.