CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a former York antiques centre into flats have been thrown out for the second time.

Councillors overruled the advice of their own council officers when they unanimously rejected a proposal to convert the property, in The Mount, into 16 flats.

Members of City of York Council's north-west planning committee concluded that part of the application, to construct a second building on the site, would dominate nearby houses leading to a loss of amenities.

A packed meeting heard ward councillor David Evans plead with his council colleagues to block the plans, put forward by builder Harrison Developments.

Councillors agreed after hearing representations from two local residents and a spokesman for the developer. The plans had originally been rejected last December because of concerns over the size of the development. Councillors decided that these concerns had not been properly addressed.

Objector Ian Baker told the meeting: "This is a poor design quality. It mimics urban travel lodge architecture."

None of the residents had any objection to the construction of eight flats in the original building, they were against a new adjoining two-storey building where the other eight flats would be constructed.

Coun Richard Cregan, chairing the meeting,said: "I know the developer has made great efforts to reduce the size of the building but, in my opinion, it has not gone far enough."

After the meeting Mr Baker said: "We are delighted that this plan has been overturned again. We are hopeful that this will be the end of it."

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, April 17, 2003