The government has rejected plans for a controversial 10-storey block of flats in Bromley after developers appealed the council’s decision.

Councillors threw out the plans put forward by South East Living Group last year for nine flats and three floors of shops in Sherman Road.

More than 50 objections were made by neighbours , with one neighbour stating: “This proposal is completely inappropriate for the area which consists of mainly Victorian and Edwardian properties. It has no architectural merit and will blight the area.”

The site is part of the Bromley town centre action plan, identified as needing socially rented and family homes.

Speaking at the time, Cllr Alexa Michael, chairwoman of the council’s planning committee, said: “We had a number of concerns about each of these proposed developments, with both of the proposals harming the setting of the Conservation Area.

“The outline 10-storey proposal would have a detrimental impact on residents living in the neighbouring 10-storey Northpoint apartment block.”

The developers tried to go over the council’s head and asked the government’s planning inspectorate to approve the plans.

The inspectorate has sided with the council and upheld the decision, saying that a new building would have a detrimental impact on nearby Northpoint tower.

According to the decision letter: “Although this scheme would provide nine additional flats and commercial floorspace in a highly accessible location and would contribute to the housing mix and the local economy, it would also have an unacceptably harmful effect on the living conditions of neighbouring residents and would compromise the comprehensive redevelopment of a larger site allocation in the adopted Local Plan.”

The developers had said new housing would go towards the borough’s targets, which are set to increase under Sadiq Khan’s plans for London.

A second application for a huge 23-storey tower in Sherman Road was also rejected earlier this year.