Plans to build a mixed height development up to five storeys in Southfields have been turned down by the council's planning committee.

On Thursday night (May 19), the committee voted seven to two abstentions to refuse a development in Ravensbury Terrace on the grounds of bulk, mass and the impact on the street scape.

December 24: Opposition towards Earlsfield flat conversion mounts

The plan was to replace a single story building used as a showroom with a part three, part four and part five storey building with a basement, for 16 flats, bike storage and a garden.

Councillor Guy Humphries, who lives near the proposed development, spoke on behalf of residents in his ward.

He said: "This is not a nimbyist objection, everyone I have spoken to accepts hypothetical development on this site.

"This is too big, too much and too close.

"It has to meet the 16 point criteria and in my opinion it fails at least eight of them."

Cllr Humphries said he had been "staggered" to see the plans recommended for approval.

Similarly tall buildings have been approved on the other side of the Wandle by Merton Council.

Cllr Humphries said this site had "no context of four or five storey buildings".

The site is a 3A flood zone and the developer was proposing to build certain parts on stilts in order to prevent flooding.

Cllr Humphries said: "They have built to the edge of the scheme and there will be no way of having the riverside walkway on that part of the development.

"It fails miserably on several counts, it is too high, too big and too dense."

The council had received 81 objections to the application before the meeting, with residents of Ravensbury Terrace saying it would add pressure to parking and traffic, result in a loss of privacy and construction would be disruptive.

It was also noted that the developer did not complete any public consultation before submitting the application.