Plans to build 78 new homes in Amersham have been thrown out for being ‘poorly designed’.

Buckinghamshire County Council planners criticised the appearance of the four and five-story block proposed by Sorbon Estates’ at St Michael’s Court, Woodside Road, once existing buildings were demolished.

In a notice of refusal, they wrote: “The proposed development by reason of its siting, height, scale, bulk, mass and appearance would be an incongruous addition to the streetscape, harmful to the character and appearance of this town centre site and its surroundings, would be of poor design.”

Planners also pointed out that health chiefs had advised that the Amersham Health Centre would ‘have insufficient consulting rooms’ to cope with an increased population living in new apartments in the town.

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Three letters of support were written welcoming the application, one of which hailed the replacement of existing ‘eyesore’ buildings at St Michael’s Court.

However, 50 letters of objection to the application were also received, mentioning issues including design, a lack of nearby infrastructure and services and the perceived effects on traffic of the new flats.

Sorbon’s plans were called in to committee by local councillors due to their ‘impact’ on the town, including by Cllr David King.

He wrote: “A development of this nature will impact the character of the town – hopefully for the better – for future generations. I therefore request the application to be ‘called in’.”

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