BMR Epsom Ltd has appealed Kingston Council's decision to refuse a planning application which aimed to convert an existing office block in Norbiton into flats with two extra storeys added.

The company is seeking to overturn the council's rejection of its plans for Fire Brigade House at 68 Coombe Road.

The application was refused by the council's planning department, meaning that it did not reach the planning committee of elected councillors.

Norbiton ward Councillor Olly Wehring said: "The planning department has deemed this application unsatisfactory against planning law and subsequently refused it at department level.

"Planning applications only proceed to committee if the planning department recommends the application for approval."

The reasons for refusal were outlined in council documents, which said that the development would be "visually jarring" and "incongruous with the character and appearance of the predominantly low-density development within the immediate surrounding areas".

The building has already received permission to be converted from office use to residential.

Councillor Wehring said that planning decisions are governed by material considerations in planning law and not public opinion.

"There is a lot of misunderstanding that local authorities are minded one way or the other on planning applications," he said.

"But it is important to understand that local authorities and local councillors are reasonably restricted in what they can and can't do. Planning is described as quasi-judicial."

Some locals object to what they see as overdevelopment in the area, raising concerns on traffic, congestion, and the changing look of the neighbourhood.

Councillor Wehring said that issues such as parking could be mitigated by the council by excluding future residents from parking permits, which is a measure regularly used on larger developments.

The appeal will now go to the Planning Inspectorate, based in Bristol, that will either uphold the council's refusal or allow the development to proceed.

Members of the public have until 5 August to submit their comments to the Planning Inspectorate here.

Epsom Ltd did not respond to a request for comment.