PLANS for an apartment block on empty Dudley land which attracts fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour' have been turned down.

The application for a four-storey block apartment block on land at the corner of Prospect Row and New Bond Street has been refused by planners at Dudley Council.

They said the building, housing 16 flats, would be a "discordant and incongruous addition to the streetscene that fails to respond to the existing character and setting of the surrounding area, creating an wholly inappropriate building along Prospect Row."

They also said it would be "overdevelopment of the site" and that "the proposed development due to its design, siting, layout and scale would be harmful to the residential amenity of the adjoining neighbours at 42 Constitution Hill East where there would be an unacceptable level of overlooking, perceived loss of privacy."

Planners also said the 16 parking spaces are not enough and would lead to cars parking on the road increasing the road safety risk.

One letter of objection was received from a neighbouring resident, with concerns centring around the building being invasive and blocking out light, apartments being out of character and the new residents complaining about noise from surrounding businesses.

Dudley News: Simms Davies Partnership Simms Davies Partnership (Image: Simms Davies Partnership)

Pic: How the apartments would have looked by Simms Davies Partnership

The site is 950 sqm and has mainly been cleared with some small buildings remaining. It has been vacant for more than a decade.

A report by planners states the flats would be modern, with brickwork and rendered areas, steel cladding to the roof and aluminium windows. There would have been Juliette balconies.

A design and access statement states: "The proposed development would significantly improve the overall appearance of the street scene in that it would secure, if implemented, the removal of a an unused, unsightly and derelict site, which is temporary in nature and attracts anti-social behaviour and unlawful tipping."

The application, in the St Thomas's ward, was refused on October 6.