The ruins of a million pound house ravished by an arson attack in January 2009 are set to be demolished.
Gamnel Farm in Bulbourne Road, Tring, was empty and up for sale at the time of the fire. It had become a hangout spot for teenagers after they somehow acquired a key.
One of the visitors accidentally set fire to curtains in a bedroom inside the plush property when the group were messing about by setting alight to the spray from an aerosol can.
Nearby householders have since described the property as an ‘eyesore’ and ‘a shame’. They say that even before the blaze it had lingered on the open market for years.
Now a planning application has been submitted to Dacorum Borough Council to build two large houses on the plot. One will have four bedrooms, while the other will have six.
The application says the properties will be bordered by planting to reduce the visual impact on the surrounding area and the materials used will be in keeping with the semi-rural location.
Neighbours have welcomed news that something is finally being done and fears of over-development have been eased by the plans, which show that land around the properties will be kept as open space.