A COUNCIL has rejected controversial plans to knock down a former business building to build a block of flats.

The application, submitted by Pickwick Estates set out how the new flats, plus 16 parking spaces, would be built on a plot of land along Bournemouth Road, Chandler’s Ford just off its junction with Leigh Road.

Access would have been available from Bournemouth Road and an existing building, previously used as a dry cleaning business and a hair salon, would have also needed to be demolished to make the plans a reality.

But a number of residents raised a number of concerns over he proposals and objected to council planners.

The plans submitted were referred to the Eastleigh Local Area Committee as they were deemed to be controversial.

The application was discussed at an online meeting of the committee and subsequently rejected as councillors said they had a number of concerns.

Chair of Eastleigh Local Area Committee Cllr Tina Campbell said: “The committee felt that this was not the right scheme for this location and voted to refuse planning permission.

“Councillors had a number of concerns that included parking and vehicle access, insufficient garden and balcony space, design and layout, together with environmental issues of air quality and noise.”

As well as concerns from councillors, the application also received 48 objections from residents in advance of the meeting.

The concerns raised were regarding access, increased traffic, air-quality, and the impact on neighbours.

If they had been allowed to go ahead, the flats would have been part three-storey and part two-storey. It would have been made up of six two-bedroom flats and two one-bedroom flats.