Councillors have thrown out plans for a six-storey block of flats which would have blocked sunlight to church windows, calling it a “brute” of a building.

The 18m tall development in Loughton High Road would have “towered” above neighbours including Loughton Methodist Church, said councillor Chris Pond at last night’s (October 26) Epping Forest District Council meeting.

The Royal Mail group had hoped to demolish its former office near Morrison’s and create 30 new homes in two “wings”.

Ahead of the meeting, critics said the development would be too big and would block sunlight to windows on buildings including the church.

Cllr Pond said: “The applicant’s agent said that the design had been made in a sensitive way, well I’d like to know what the committee would think an insensitive way would be because to me, this is a brute of a building.

“It’s very poor design.”

He added: “It’s much too dominant in my view when viewed from the car park… that building would simply tower above the street scene… this is a most insensitive, out of place, out of scale, bulky building which will gravely impact on the visual impact of the town and the daylight and amenities of the church.”

Before councillors voted last night, council officers had recommended they approve the plans despite the developers failing to meet the required level of 40 per cent “affordable” housing.

Planners said six “affordable” flats – rather than 12 – would be acceptable because otherwise the development would become “unviable or undesirable for the applicant”.

However, councillor John Knapman said: “I am somewhat sceptical about these figures… I think it’s nonsense.”

He added: “I can no longer trust what I think is coming our way on viability.”

The Royal Mail group’s agent Rob Copley spoke at the meeting, claiming: “The proposal… contributes well designed, sensibly sized units close to town centre facilities within an area suffering from a severe lack of new housing provision.

“The development will provide local homes that are accessible to local people.

“They will help to meet the housing target in a sensitive way that is designed specifically to be in-keeping with surroundings and will not encroach on the green belt.”

Despite his claims, 16 councillors backed Cllr Pond’s motion for refusal with one abstention.

Any new development plan would have to be smaller and more similar to surrounding buildings, they said.