The current site in Dartmouth Park

IT was likened to a “corporate headquarters for a dodgy bank”, and called a “top heavy pastiche” of classic Victorian architecture – but plans for a new block of flats did have the blessing of council planners.

Not that the recommendation from officers helped the developers of the Lamorna site in Dartmouth Park.

Their advice was promptly ignored by Camden’s planning councillors and, to the delight of scores of objectors, the plans were thrown out on Thursday night. The proposals on the table were to replace a 1930s two-floor red brick cottage with the five-storey block.

Neighbours said that new housing was important, but the scheme was too bulky for the road, cut sunlight and would look out of place in the conservation area.

They must now wait to see if the decision will stand set in stone, as developers HGG London immediately hinted that they might appeal to a planning inspector and continue attempts to secure building consent.

One objector, Lucy Rogers, had been so incensed by the size and look of the designs, she made a film to illustrate the impact, if builders were given the green light.

She said: “The fact that it was not just neighbours who were concerned shows the scale. “It made an impact on anyone who really looked at it.”

Drawing on informa­tion in the developers’ application to the Town Hall, her video followed a stroll into Dartmouth Park Road from the historic Georgian street Grove Terrace and up to Lamorna.

She said: “There are lots of infill sites where things can be built, but you have to take care how you do it. In this borough there is a good history of small, modern buildings from the 20th century on infill, but this completely lacked any context.

“That was really quite obvious in a  conservation area – and that is something that they must be aware of. When you look at what was proposed, it looks like it was designed purely from an office.”

The plans for the Lamorna scheme

Architect Joanna van Heynigan spoke at the meeting, representing the Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum.

She said: “My role was to impress upon the meeting the ways in which the proposed building went against many aspects of our neighbourhood plan.

“What we pointed out was not only that the building was too tall and too deep, but also that it would have disastrously undermined the balance of the street. “We thought that the architecture was corporate and fussy.

“We would welcome a well designed modern building on this site, one whose scale negotiates between the buildings to its left and right on Dartmouth Park Road. We support thoughtful modern buildings, particularly if they provide social or affordable housing.

“We object to bad ones which don’t.”

A spokesperson for developers HGG London said: “We are disappointed by Camden Council’s decision, which goes against the recommendation of Camden’s planning officers.

“We believe our Lamorna scheme offers significant benefits – delivering an increase in high-quality, sustainably designed homes for the borough in accordance with local and national planning policy.

“We are now reviewing our position, including the option to appeal the decision.”