Plans to build a four-storey development of flats on the site of a former care home have been approved.

Councillors approved a proposal for 14-two beds flats in Radlett, during a planning committee meeting held on Thursday last week.

The former Abbeyfield care home, on the corner of The Drive and Beech Avenue, will be demolished.

A number of residents and Aldenham Parish Council had objected to the development on the "prominent site" with a petition signed by 40 people and a total of 26 objections.

Concerns raised were the development would be "out of keeping, over-bearing and uncharacteristic" and that the site would be overdeveloped, that it would have an "unacceptable impact" on the highway.

There were also concerns about privacy, loss of light and parking.

At the meeting, Beech Avenue's Graham Jennings said it was "just too big and completely out of character".

He suggested that there were already too many flats available for sale in Radlett and that the site should be used for detached housing instead, which he said would be more "in keeping" with the area.

Councillor Lucy Selby spoke against the plans as a community advocate - she said the flats would "not be in keeping with the existing street scene" and would "set a dangerous precedent" for other roads in Radlett.

During the debate, Hertsmere borough councillor John Graham, who represents the people of Radlett, pointed out the new building of four storeys would be higher than the existing two-and-a-half storey building. He voted against the scheme alongside Cllr Sarah Hodgson-Jones.

However other councillors suggested that while it may be slightly different to what was already there, this did not mean it was "out of character".

Councillor Jeremy Newmark said the application was "a very policy compliant" application and he suggested the objections to it at the meeting were "nimbyism".

However he was one of a number of councillors to raise concerns at the suggestion that the development would not offer affordable housing.

Cllr Jerry Evans did not vote because the committee did not have a report on the application from the housing department.

Speaking on behalf of locally-based applicants Griggs Homes, agent Richard Henley said this scheme would be of the "highest quality" – that would be contemporary in some aspects, while sympathetic to surrounding buildings.

He stressed the sustainability features of the plans – including photo-voltaic cells, vehicle charging points in the basement parking area, provision of four e-bikes for residents and the retention of the hedgerow.