DETAILED plans to build 70 flats at Bangor’s former Jewson’s site have been turned down amid concerns over the scale of the development.

The plot has been at the centre of controversy since 2011 when Llangefni based Hughes Bros Ltd put in a bid to develop the site, which sits at the very lower end of the High Street near Penlon Gardens.

This afternoon, Gwynedd Council’s Planning Committee turned down the detailed plans despite earlier outline proposals being approved by councillors in March 2015 – meaning that the principle of residential development on the site has already been established.

But as members went against the advice of planning officers, the application will again be put before councillors next month following a “cooling off period.”

As part of the amended plans, the number of living units had been slightly reduced from the original 77 to 70, across one two-storey building and three blocks of flats up to four storeys in height.

The development includes 24 one-bedroom units and 46 two-bedroom units, with a total of 13 being designated as affordable units with 67 parking spaces being provided on-site.

But the plans have been opposed locally, including an objection from Bangor City Council who claimed the development did not enjoy the support of local residents and represented over development.

Speaking during this afternoon’s meeting in Pwllheli, Cllr Keith Jones said there were too many HMO’s in the city with parking already an issue in the area.

“The height of the buildings is too high for the surrounding area, they will be overlooking all the existing houses,” said the member for Hirael.

“I’m concerned over the affordability of the homes, they say the houses will be affordable but affordable to who? There’s no work, who’s going to buy these flats?

“Once those buildings go up they’ll be there for many years. I think its going to lead to an over concentration in the area and the inevitable resulting parking problems in what is a relatively small area.”

Cllr Huw Wyn Jones proposed that the plans should be turned down due to their scale and appearance, which was described by Cllr Louise Hughes as looking like “lego buildings.”

Their proposal was backed by seven members with three voting against.

The site has a chequered planning history.

When initially submitted in 2011 the developers planned to tear down the existing buildings at Penlon Works in Bangor and erect seven new ones on the land, creating 161 student flats in the process.

But the plans were rejected by Gwynedd Council whilst a subsequent appeal to the Welsh Government against that decision was also thrown out.

A second, scaled-down bid to build 109 student living units on the site was put in by the firm but was rejected by the council again in December 2013.

The plans are expected to be put again before members when the committee meets in Dolgellau on February 11.