A SCHEME to replace a York car park with 145 flats has been condemned for being "too big a development in such an important location".

The plans for the NCP car park in Skeldergate were refused last night by City of York Council's Planning Committee, after coming in for heavy criticism from residents and councillors.

Council planning officers had recommended the four and five-storey development for approval.

The meeting heard that the would-be developers, Bryant Homes, had agreed to contribute nearly £55,000 to the provision of open space in the area; a quarter of the homes would be "affordable" ones; and the site fell within the city's inner urban area, where the Government encouraged increased development density to take pressure off the Green Belt.

Iain Bath, of planning consultants Knight-Frank, who spoke on behalf of Bryant Homes, said: "What is before you today is the culmination of lengthy and detailed discussions with officers of the council and also local residents." He added the site was allocated for residential use, and flood risk issues had been dealt with, as had archaeological and contamination ones. "The scheme will lead to both visual and physical improvements," he said.

But local resident Kevin Molloy called the development "totally insensitive", adding: "It will dominate the whole of the area, including riverside frontages."

Ian Prior, of the Bishophill Neighbourhood Planning Panel, said: "The scheme is too big, it's too high. Five storeys here is absurd, the whole of York will see it."

And Bishophill ward councillor David Evans urged the committee to refuse the plan, saying: "It's simply too big a development for such an important location."

Coun Ken King said the flats would be totally out of keeping with Bishophill's small terraced streets.

"I have lived in York for 66 years and I am proud of that. But I am not proud of the way it is beginning to change.

"Developers are trying to cram things onto every little bit of land they can and I think it is time to say enough is enough."

Councillors were also concerned that the only access to the flats for vehicles was via Skeldergate, which was prone to flooding.

After the meeting a Knight-Frank representative declined to comment.

But Mr Molloy said: "We are absolutely delighted. We thought we had a good chance because the case against the proposals was strong, but we were not presuming anything."

And Mr Prior added: "We will meet to consider the next step we will take. When we find out what any appeal is based on we will be doing all we can to ensure that appeal is turned down."

Updated: 11:36 Friday, March 29, 2002