It is outrageous that on appeal the government can force through developments that have no windows, are smaller than the minimum size in their own guidelines and don’t even have a proper fire escape.
Liberal Democrat campaigners including Mayor Peter Taylor and Parliamentary Candidate Ian Stotesbury outside the site on Wellstones.
The plans at 1 Wellstones was approved by a Government Inspectorate after rejected by Watford Borough Council for containing proposed flats with no windows, poor access to fire escapes and very little floorspace.
We must have decent homes for everyone. Councils should have the power to reject these applications.
"We, the undersigned, call on Government to urgently review and amend permitted development rights so that commercial properties cannot be converted to residential without planning permission, enabling councils to insist on adequate windows, floorspace and fire escape access, and to ensure that new residential properties contribute adequately to the provision of local infrastructure, such as transport, schools and play facilities."
