Permission has been refused for extra flats in Hitchin – after council concerns over 'unsympathetic and unacceptable' development plans for the town centre.

North Herts District Council refused planning permission for 10 flats to be added onto the top of The Exchange on Queen Street.

The application had caused disquiet among residents who contacted Hitchin Nub News to express their concerns that the move could spoil views of the town's iconic 12th century church, St Mary's.

While others stated the proposed development was 'simply not warranted'.

The plan was for a two storey roof extension to create four single-bed studio apartments and six two-bed apartments (third and fourth floors) - with 10 allocated car parking spaces within existing the car park area, cycle parking, bin storage facilities including a communal roof garden.

In denying the application, the council statement said: "The proposed development, by reason of its siting, height and massing will result in a form of development that that is over dominant and out of scale with the surrounding pattern and scale of development.

"In addition the proposed design and materials are unsympathetic to the host building, refuse collection arrangements would not be satisfactory, and the development would have an adverse impact on the living conditions of existing residents."

The statement concluded: "Planning permission has been refused for this proposal for the clear reasons set out in this decision notice.

"The council acted proactively through early engagement with the applicant at the pre-application stage.

"This positive advice has however been ignored and therefore the council remains of the view that the proposal is unacceptable."

The applicant, Mr Sarno, has gone to appeal – with a decision pending from the planning inspectorate (ref: APP/X1925/W/20/3248491).