A major student flats development has been thrown out by councillors.

Proposals from David Cox Architects had a seven-storey block of student apartments – with space for 152 students in total.

However, councillors decided to vote against the recommendation by Preston City Council’s planning officers who had said the plans should be approved.

The flats would be built on the former New Friargate Social Club and its associated land – near the Media Factory and Maudland Bank, and a stones throw from the University of Central Lancashire campus.

Eight councillors voted to refuse the plans, with only one councillor wanting to see them built.

Notes from the planning committee state: “The proposed development, by virtue of size, scale and massing, would have an unacceptable overbearing impact upon the street scene and would fail to respond to its surrounding context contrary to Local Plan Policies AD1 and EN9, Core Strategy Policy 17 and the National Planning Policy Framework.”

Read more: Watch how Preston’s university could look by 2020

Nearby residents and University ward councillor Carl Crompton objected to the flats – saying they were ‘overbearing’.

There were also objections raised about how the view of St Walburge’s Church would be blocked by the new flats.

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