A highly contentious development close to Bushey Arches was last night rejected as “too big, too bulky and too dominant”.

Developers Dukelease had hoped to gain approval to build 86 flats on the rundown former J R Tagger site.

Residents in Oxhey, backed by the Oxhey Village Environment Group (OVEG), have always maintained the Pinner Road proposal is out of keeping with the local area, claiming it is far too tall and does not offer adequate parking provision.

The building firm has also fallen foul of local residents by claiming, incorrectly, that the site was riddled with prostitution and drug dealers.

Nevertheless, Dukelease had attempted to win residents over by scaling down the latest proposal.

The number of residential flats has been reduced from 106 to 86 and the scale of the building scaled down.

On Wednesday night, however, Watford Borough Council’s development control committee sided with the residents by rejecting the application because of its appearance and because it was out of character with the rest of the area.

Speaking on behalf of OVEG, Alan Luto told the committee: “It is a high building which overwhelms the whole area.”

He spoke of the group’s concern over the lack of parking for residents and shoppers at the part residential, part commercial development.

Oxhey councillor, Tony Poole, also spoke against the development, calling it “inappropriate and disproportionate”.

He said local residents had branded the building as “Stalinist” in its appearance and told the committee: “Most of us will see it on a daily basis for years to come after the developers have taken their profits and gone.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, held inside the town hall, the development was unanimously turned down by the eight member committee.

Councillor Iain Sharpe, also a Oxhey councillor, said: “I come to the conclusion that this development is just too much, too bulky, too dominant and too intrusive for the site it is proposed.”

He added: “It is unlike anything else in Oxhey and I feel a real sense that it will dominate the landscape in a way which is unsympathetic to the area generally.”

The design of the part four, part five and part six storey building did find favour with several members of the committee. However, it was agreed it was not in keeping with the area.

Councillor Zoe McQuire called described the proposal as a “clever design”.

She said: “Although it is very clever and there is a place for it, I don’t think this is that place.”

The committee agreed the development was more of a “town centre design”.

Councillor Steve Rackett also voiced concerns regarding the state of Bushey station, seen as a key transport link for the development, while Councillor Rabi Martins said the noise created by the roads would be unbearable for residents.