A PLAN to build a modern-style extension to a listed building close to the heart of Great Malvern has been thrown out by district councillors who heard it described as "architectural bad manners".

Applicant Nick Hines's plan involved building the extension, to house two apartments, at 37 Wells Road, also known as Belle Vue Heights, a large Edwardian neo-Gothic house.

A more traditional extension to the same building had been approved in 2013.

The site is in the Great Malvern Conservation Area and on the boundary of the Malvern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

At a meeting of Malvern Hills District Council's southern area development management committee, planning officers were recommending approval of the scheme, saying its impact would cause "less than substantial harm to the surrounding area".

But Clive Smith, representing Malvern Town Council, said: "We are recommending refusal of this planning application as the design of the proposed new building is felt to be inappropriate immediately adjacent to the existing building.

"As it stands, the design has 'architectural bad manners', to quote architectural historian Alec Clifton-Taylor, and is not sympathetic to the building or the immediate surroundings. Members suggested that a more appropriate design, particularly with regard to the façade, should be placed by the architect before the committee."

Committee chairman Roger Hall-Jones, a local ward councillor, said that although he was enthusiastic about many of the modern designs recently built in Malvern, including one at Worcester Road near Link Top, he could not approve of this one.

He said: "The Worcester Road building will, I think, one day become a listed building itself, because it fits in so well with its late Regency neighbours.

"I can't say the same for this. The proposed addition would destroy completely the symmetry of the existing building."

Cllr Hall-Jones's motion of refusal was seconded by his fellow ward councillor Hannah Campbell. She said: "There is no similarity of design between the original building and what is proposed, no nod in the design."

The plan was rejected by 15 votes to four.