Proposals to build 260 care apartments for the elderly that look akin to "prison blocks" have been approved by politicians.

Wycombe District Council’s planning committee approved plans to build 260 extra care apartments for the elderly on the Hughenden Quarter Main Development site, in Hughenden Avenue, at a meeting on Wednesday night.

The application outlines that the height of the development will be a maximum of seven storeys high, with communal facilities and car parking.

In documents submitted to the council, officers recommended that councillors approve the scheme and the decision be passed on to the head of planning, which is necessary as it involves a deviation from council policy.

While the contentious plans were praised by some councillors, other politicians criticised the imposing look of the scheme.

Councillor Alan Turner said that, although he agrees with the concept of the retirement home scheme, he is concerned about the appearance of the development and the parking problems that could arise from it.

The Independent representative for The Risboroughs added: "This is just the sort of, I’m reluctant to call it design, that we were sort of scratching our heads over. The whole of Wycombe is becoming to look like this, like prison blocks.

"Where we have large scale developments. This looks like any one of a dozen or so developments recently. They look identical. I think they are reminiscent of these large scale housing developments in Eastern Europe or Russia that you see. I mean they are just dreadful, awful.

"And back in the 1960s Wycombe's appearance was destroyed with a concrete revolution. It destroyed the character of the town completely and in 50 years' time I envisage people looking back and saying ‘god look what the planners have done’."

However, Conservative councillor, Jean Teesdale, said that "beauty's in the eye of the beholder" and that the scheme, on the whole, was very good.

She added: "It does offer a quality of life here. There’s going to be a lot going on, a hairdressers I believe, normal life as it should be. Not a little tiny box we saw before."

Conservative councillor, Hugh McCarthy echoed Councillor Teesdale’s thoughts, adding that it was "a win for the district".

Councillor McCarthy said: "It’s a massive opportunity to provide sustainable care somewhere near to the town, which has access to shops, so we really should be pleased.

"It’s a very important part of our town centre regeneration and I applaud the scheme."

Politicians agreed officers’ recommendations.