Kingston Council has refused a planning application to convert Fire Brigade House on the corner of Norbiton Avenue and Coombe Road into residential units.

The plans were submitted last month and asked for the "Erection of two additional storeys in an existing office block to create 8nos residential units".

According to the applicant, Savills, the site is a brownfield site which is "currently occupied by a three-storey semi-detached office building (Class E)fronting Coombe Road, in use by the Fire Brigades Union.

The proposal sought to "deliver eight residential dwellings compromising of four no. one bedroom studios per floor eight cycle spaces will be provided as part of the proposals and will be located at the ground level floor to the rear of the site within a secure bike store"

Local residents previously took to social media to advocate against the application, with one saying: "Another ugly residential development without any increase in nurseries, schools, dentists & doctors.

"Plus, more impact on our already exhausted water and power supplies once again no real thought to green areas for people to use."

Another said: "It doesn't fit with the area at all. Why does KT1 have to be all high rise yet other areas have developments that are in keeping with the area. This is a joke again but who cares about residents hey."

"A third resident said: "Hasn't that particular area had enough development over the last few years. Every single one has caused traffic congestion. Those poor neighbours that live there too."

A council document says the refusal was made because: "The proposed development does not comply with Condition AA.2(1)(e) specified under Class AA of Part 20, of Schedule 2, of the Town and Country Planning) as the proposed external appearance of development, in terms of its siting, scale, mass, architectural features and design, would be visually jarring with the host property and incongruous with the character and appearance of the predominately low-density development within the immediate surrounding area."