Proposals for a block of 152 student apartments near Preston’s university remain on the back-burner.

David Cox Architect had applied to build the seven-storey building on the site of the former New Friargate Social Club.

Councillors voted to reject the scheme in summer last year due to it having ‘an unacceptable overbearing impact upon the street scene and would fail to respond to its surrounding context’.

An appeal was lodged with the planning inspector about the development which would border Maudland Road, Leighton Street, Pedder Street and Maudland Bank.

A report to Preston City Council’s planning committee states: “The Inspector concluded that the proposed development would be of a size, scale and massing that would not be sensitive to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and would fail to take account of, or respond positively to, all aspects of the character and appearance of that area.”

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He dismissed the appeal by the developers.