A BLOCK of flats proposed for the Malvern Vale housing development looks like a prison, says one district councillor.

Cllr Mike Soley made the remark as councillors discussed a plan by Persimmon Homes South Midlands for 21 apartments, designated as Phase Six of the estate.

The one- and two-bedroom flats are intended to provide affordable housing.

Malvern Hills planning officers recommended that the plan should be approved, although they noted concerns that the building would "clearly be prominent" from neighbouring properties.

But councillors at a meeting of the northern area development management committee objected to the three- and four-storey block, and voted overwhelmingly to throw it out.

Cllr Soley said the proposal was "ghastly" and "horrible", and said: "In a previous life, I had a job where I had to take people to Pucklechurch, a prison in Gloucestershire. It looks like that and I feel sorry for any future residents who have to live here."

Cllr Graham Myatt, the Dyson Perrins ward member, said he feared the block would overshadow the REME copse - a small group of trees at the the centre of the estate - and a nearby watercourse.

He said: "I do have a real problem with the size and mass of this proposed development. Even our officers have residual concerns about it.

"It does not give the impression of a harmonious relationship with its surroundings and is totally disproportionate."

He said he was also worried about the lack of a lift on the plans. He said: "What about the disabled? Who would like to carry shopping bags up four stories?"

Cllr John Raine said: "One of the characteristics of Malvern Vale is its flatness, which allows seeing the sky and the hills over the houses on the estate. A building of four stories plus roof is really going to change that openness.

"The look of the building would be typical for a downtown city development, but it's not for Malvern Vale at all."

Andy Peters, managing director at Persimmon, said: “We were surprised and disappointed with the council’s decision to refuse our planning application for much-needed affordable new homes at Malvern Vale, particularly when planning officers had recommended our application for approval.

“Further development on this site was prompted following the huge demand we experienced for the new homes on our previous phases, and we will re-submit our application taking into account the recommendations made at the planning committee meeting."