A PLANNING boss has refused an application to turn a pub into housing, due to its design.

Penelope Tollitt, Wycombe District Council's head of planning and sustainability, had the final say on The Black Prince in Wycombe Road, Princes Risborough.

The Wellington Pub Company wanted to demolish the current building, which was lastly an Indian restaurant called Zest, and turn it into a terrace of six three bedroom homes and build one block containing four two bedroom apartments.

The council's planning committee discussed the plans in June and recommended it for refusal, referring the final decision to Ms Tollitt.

She has refused the development because of the design layout- "in particular the jarring and incongruous alignment of the terrace at right angles to the existing streetscene."

She said along with the siting of the block of flats and the parking hardstanding- the development would not respect or reflect the layout and form of existing development in the area.

Ms Tollitt added: "The density of the development proposed is greater than is reasonably required to make efficient use of urban land and a more contextual approach to the layout is necessary."

The applicant could now put in a different application with more suitable plans for residential homes.