HUNDREDS of residents are celebrating after district planners threw out a developer's latest plans for a housing development in Alton Town Centre.

Eric Morgan wanted to build nine, one and two-bedroom flats on land adjoining 10 Turk Street – next to what is thought to be the oldest building in Alton.

This is the applicant's fourth attempt to develop the site into homes, each has attracted massive public opposition as well as objection from the town council.

The latest scheme would have seen two blocks of flats, one with four studio flats and a one- bedroom and a two-bedroom flat, the other with three two-bedroom flats. Eight parking spaces would have been provided on the ground floor.

The plans come hot on the heels of the last scheme, which was thrown out at appeal earlier this year.

Nearly 360 letters of objection were sent to East Hampshire District Council about the latest plans, objections for reasons like overdevelopment, out-of-keeping, traffic, inadequate parking and potential damage to the adjacent listed building.

The Alton Society was also concerned that the development could damage the foundations of the adjacent cottage.

Despite the concerns, case officer Keith Oliver recommended that councillors grant planning permission for the development.

In his report to members of the north planning committee, he said that the council's conservation officer was now happy with the scheme, believing that the applicant had overcome the appeal inspector's concerns that the bulk of the development at the rear of the site would have impacted on the listed building.

Town councillor Pam Jones said the council had not been happy with any of the schemes submitted for the site and it had not changed its mind this time.

"It is an unacceptable overdevelopment of the site. It would be extremely cramped and we are extremely concerned about the effect it would have on the listed building beside it," she said.

"It contains insufficient space to allow vehicles to turn."

A spokesman for the applicant said that the plans had been amended to take into account the reasons for refusing the last set of plans. The density had been reduced and one storey had been removed from the rear block of flats, he said. The number of flats had also been reduced from 13 to nine.

Tony Ludlow, who represents Alton Amery, said: "It still seems to me a very cramped use of the site so if I was an inspector, I would feel that this had not completely addressed the problems I had raised."

But other members believed that the applicant had addressed the concerns raised and the scheme was now acceptable.

Bob Chilton, ward member for Alton Ashdell, said: "This is probably as good as it gets in terms of how we can control this development."

But Mr Ludlow recommended that the scheme be refused because its scale and height would not preserve or enhance the conservation area and would be detrimental to the adjacent listed building.

This was agreed by councillors.