Developers looked on in dismay as Watford councillors threw out their controversial plans to build 40 flats in the centre of town.

In a shock decision and major setback for Seventh Day Adventist Association, Watford Borough Council’s planning committee tonight refused to back the authority’s planning officials' recommendation to approve the company’s proposed three storey development in St John’s Road.

Councillors claimed that if the scheme for 23, 25 and 25A St John’s Road was given the green light, there would be issues with the design of the building – which one councillor compared to Lego.

They also said there would be parking concerns.

The proposed development location.

Seventh Day Adventist Association made it clear before the meeting that the company would appeal to a planning inspector in a bid to get the decision approved if councillors rejected the outline scheme which besides building two blocks of flats includes demolishing the three current buildings.

Of the 40 proposed flats between the junctions with Clarendon Road and Albert Road North, 14 were planned to be affordable.

Speaking after the meeting, Peter Young, who lives next to the proposed site, said it was a small victory, but he was concerned the decision would be overturned by the planning inspectorate.

The 79-year-old retired electrical engineer said: “We welcome this decision. We are not opposed to development at the site, but not to this scale and design.

“Building 40 flats is too many so we want to see a reduction. Also parking issues need to be addressed.”

Developers said tenants would not be given parking permits, but residents raised concerns that current parking restrictions end at 6.30pm meaning they would lose spaces.

Debating the contentious plans, which attracted more than 20 letters objecting, councillors hung their objections on design issues and the proposed scheme would being detrimental to the character of the area.

Chair of the committee Rabi Martins warned the development is in a prominent site and the general look was cheap.

He said: “The building looks out of place in a residential area. It is an overdevelopment of the site and the design falls below the high standard that we look for in the council.”

He suggested the proposal be rejected, with four other councillors agreeing and three disagreeing.

Cllr Stephen Johnson raised concerns the area is designated office space and a block of flats should not be allowed.

He also raised concerns about parking and the design, but said although he was not happy he could find no reason for refusal based on Government guidelines.

He added: “I find it really frustrating sitting here having no choice but to approve applications like this because as residents know it makes no sense.”

The buildings are currently used by the developers as offices.

Neighbours raised concerns the development would affect their privacy and security.