SIDCUP residents have kept the battle going in their efforts to stop an ultra-modern development of flats on the edge of a conservation area.

The proposals by Apex Developments involve 120 Main Road, Sidcup, the site where a two-storey house, used as a campus for Bexley College, has now been demolished.

Apex wants to build the flats in three blocks.

The front block, facing Main Road, will be part three/part four storeys high with five flats and a duplex apartment on the fourth floor.

In the middle of the site will be a two-storey building with two maisonettes and the third building, fronting The Crescent, will be three storeys high and contain six flats.

Apex was refused planning permission last year for a similar development of 14 flats, and the company appealed against the decision.

Although Apex lost the appeal, the planning inspector was supportive of the general layout and the contemporary design, although he was unhappy with the plans for the block fronting The Crescent.

Residents and the Sidcup Town Partnership spoke against the application at last week’s Bexley Council planning control committee.

Geoff Willing from the partnership quoted one of Bexley’s own planning policies which says development in residential areas should be compatible with the character or appearance of the area.

He pointed out the flats would be in a run of red brick Victorian buildings and added: “Whoever thought these plans complied with that policy — they should have gone to Specsavers.”

Andrew Cox, from Apex, quoted the planning inspector’s findings to the committee and said Apex’s latest proposals fully complied with the inspector’s views.

But committee members pointed out the amenity space was one per cent short of council requirements.

Sidcup councillor Mike Slaughter said: “I know the company has us by the short and curlies and we are fighting a losing battle.

“But if we have to accept this, let’s make sure we get the required amount of amenity space.”

Other councillors were unhappy with the distance between the blocks and the modern design.

After a long debate, members decided to defer a decision to gain more details on the development’s emergency access to block B, location of rubbish bins and details of the security gates off The Crescent.