Genesis has won approval from Bushey and Aldenham planning committee to demolish flats on Girtin Road , Munro Road and Gulland Close, and replace them with 48 houses and 142 flats.

After nearly four years of negotiating and planning, Bushey residents are celebrating the news that PCHA, which is part of Genesis Housing Group, will be regenerating the area's housing estate with the help of architects SHP.

Built in the 1950s for Ministry of Defence personnel, the flats are past the affordable repair stage and no longer economically viable. PCHA has listened closely to local police, councillors, surrounding owner occupiers and tenants, to come up with a regeneration plan. The scheme gained support from many Hertsmere's Borough Councillors.

The existing flats will be demolished and replaced with a mixed-tenure development of 190 homes. There will be a mix of seven blocks of flats, ten terraces of houses, one semi-detached pair of houses and two detached houses. 46% of the homes will be affordable and the remainder for private sale.

One feature cited as of paramount importance by tenants was that each house will have a garden. This is fully reflected in the plans. Hightown Praetorian residents and staff were also consulted and PCHA is responding to them by including a more suitable block than is currently available - complete with staff accommodation.

SHP has designed a modern and innovative mixed-tenure scheme. All customers will be treated equally, regardless of their tenure. These environmentally friendly homes will feature communal lighting powered by renewable energy and will incorporate cycle routes.

To create a sense of inclusion into the wider neighbourhood the estate has been opened up by creating a footpath between PCHA homes and those in the surrounding area to give all residents better access to local shops and schools.

David Pitney Hall, Development Manager at Genesis, said, "After nearly four years we are very excited to be finally able to focus on regenerating this neglected site for our residents. The homes will contribute towards reducing the housing shortage in Hertsmere and will have a positive economic impact on the area."

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Notes to editors

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most successful housing groups in the UK. Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overiding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.

PCHA bought two-thirds of the site in 1998 and they were used as outright rented social housing flats, with a mix of two three- and four-bed flats. One block of six four-bed flats were also owned by PCHA but managed by Hightown Praetorian for people with learning disabilities. The remainder of the estate was purchased by PCHA in January 2005, resulting in 16 three-storey blocks comprising six flats per block, and a range of two three- and four-bed flats.

The mixed tenure development of 190 homes will comprise a mix of flats and houses: 75 X 1-bed flats, 66 X 2-bed flats, 1 X 3-bed flats, 13 X 2-bed flats, 16 X 3-bed houses, 19 X 4-bed houses along with 303 parking spaces.