A Borehamwood landlord's request to turn a flat into an office has been turned down by borough councillors.

Lee Wood told councillors, at a meeting of Hertsmere Borough Council's environment committee last Wednesday, that he had found the flat difficult to let, and had experienced problems with tenants.

Mr Wood, of Shenley Road, said the "last straw" had been police calling at the flat, at 12a Shenley Road, in connection with a murder inquiry.

Although his request was agreed by a planning sub-committee in July, last week's environment committee rejected his proposal because residential accommodation would be lost, which was against the borough's planning policy.

Councillor Jean Heywood told councillors: "Turning this into an office will start a precedent, and this worries me. Accommodation is short. There are a lot of people who want one bedroom flats."

Council officers had recommended to councillors to refuse the application, to convert part of the ground floor, and the first and second floors, to office-use.