Plans to demolish a vacant St Albans office site for over 70 flats have been refused by St Albans City and District Council.

Marlborough House, an office block in St Albans, would have been demolished for five-storey residential buildings in plans proposed December last year.

The application, submitted to the district council planning committee, saw the 1960s block at 18 Upper Marlborough Road make way for two new buildings, containing 76 flats in total.

Previously, the applicant withdrew an application for the construction of 88 residential flats on the same site and reapplied in accordance with "feedback".

An artist's impression of the proposed development.An artist's impression of the proposed development. (Image: ColladoCollins Architects) Since the resubmission, the proposal has received over 20 objections and been refused by the planning committee.

A statement in the decision notice reads: "The proposed development by reason of its design, scale, height, massing and forward projection would be harmful to the character and appearance of the street scene, the Conservation Area and non-designated heritage assets."

Furthermore, the statement said the harm caused by the project was "not outweighed by sufficient public benefits".

The infrastructure requirements of the development were also thought to be insufficient with provisions including hospitals, education and parking.

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Despite the initial refusal, the applicant is willing and encouraged to enter a "s106 agreement" - to mitigate the impact of the development on local services - and when completed, members of the planning committee will have an opportunity to reconsider their decision.

The s106 is a legal agreement detailing the provision of NHS services, education, library service, youth services, Highways, and Fire and Rescue services among others.

To view the application go to St Albans City and District Council's planning portal and search 5/2023/2398.