Plans for an additional five houses on the site of a former school in Borehamwood have been granted.

In 2015 planning permission was granted for 301 houses to be built on the upper site of Hertswood Academy, in Thrift Farm Lane.

But on August 14, Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee considered a revised plan.

They agreed that 30 houses could be planned for an area of the original plan that would have been occupied by 25.

Initially the site had included 25 four-bedroom properties. But under the revised application it will include seven four-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom properties.

Planning officers recommended to the committee that the application be granted.

However there were objections from seven nearby residents, pointing to concerns that included design that was "out of keeping" and loss of privacy to residents of Thrift Farm Lane.

Some also said there should be traffic calming, that parking was "insufficient" and that increased infrastructure – including GPs, schools and police – would be required.

The report to the committee said that the proposed development would have an acceptable impact upon privacy for neighbours.

The revised site falls within a larger development of more than 300 dwellings, which acts as an “enabling” development for a new £34m academy at the Hertswood Lower School site in Cowley Hill - which is set to open next month.

When the original planning application was considered it was concluded that the resources from the housing scheme (after construction costs) would be the same as the costs of the school build.

However there is a provision for a proportion of any surplus to be provided for affordable housing elsewhere in the borough.

On Thursday, councillors noted that a deed of variation would ensure that any additional value from the revised part of the development would be captured for affordable housing.