CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after councillors rejected plans to build a controversial four-storey building on one of the main routes into York.

The City of York Council central planning committee last night slammed the proposal by Shepherd Homes to build the massive new block on the corner of the Mount and Scarcroft Road.

Local residents had organised a cherry picker to reach to 49ft - the building's full height - to show councillors the true extent of the building.

Residents' spokesman David Rayner told the meeting the proposed building was "grossly intrusive into a very sensitive corner site", was two-and-a-half times the height of a building which had been given planning permission for that site, and would "dwarf" no 89 The Mount, a Grade II listed building.

Residents' objections were also backed by the York Civic Trust.

Trust spokesman Adam Sinclair said: "This will seriously harm this handsome entry into York city centre". He said the building failed to meet criteria set by the council.

Denise Dodd, of inward investment website York-England.Com, said the land was a perfect site for businesses, and should not be handed over from commercial use to residential development without being offered for sale for employment.

The many objections were backed by councillors.

Coun Ruth Potter said: "It seems to me this is a cynical application trying to get as much out of the city as possible without giving anything back, such as affordable housing. It's siting is going to have a detrimental effect on the whole street and conservation area."

Coun Charles Hall said: "This is clearly a quality employment site, but does not seem to have been marketed for businesses, and that line must be followed."

Coun Derek Smallwood said: "Conservation areas must be afforded the just protection and clearly this isn't doing that."

Architect David Strickland, for Shepherd, had argued the building was in scale with other buildings on the road, hid unsightly extensions on other buildings and in fact "enhanced the siting of the listed building".

A spokesman for Shepherd Homes said: "Naturally we are very disappointed by the decision to refuse consent after we have worked closely with the planning authority for over 18 months to ensure that the scheme both complies with planning guidelines and was appropriate for this important location.

"We are especially disappointed as the officers recommended approval. We will now take time to consider our options."

Updated: 10:39 Friday, August 06, 2004