A ‘daunting’ plan which threatened to dominate some of the oldest buildings in a Wirral town was thrown out on Tuesday night.

The plan to build three apartments on top of a two storey building at Grosvenor Court, on Grosvenor Road in Hoylake, was voted down at Wirral Council’s planning committee.

Speaking on behalf of 70 residents who signed a petition against the proposal, Mary Gerrard said the plan will “dwarf” some of Hoylake’s oldest buildings and was totally out of place.

Tory councillor Kathy Hodson said the plan would make the property “overbearing” and harm the neighbourhood as it was out of character with nearby houses.

There was much support for this view at the committee, as the plan would see nearby two storey properties overlooked by a three storey building.

Lib Dem councillor Stuart Kelly, chair of the planning committee, said that looking down Cable Road, which is adjacent to Grosvenor Court, with its old two storey buildings he could not shake the feeling that this plan will dominate the street scene.

Not all councillors agreed with this.

Labour councillor Steve Foulkes said that although the plans looked “daunting” when viewed from Cable Road, Wirral as a whole needs to intensify its housing supply in residential areas if it is to protect the greenbelt as stated in the borough’s draft Local Plan.

He also pointed out that while he was aware of the concerns of local residents, they needed balancing against the benefit to potential future occupants of the apartments who would love to live in the town.

The committee’s vote was tied, with seven voting for the proposal and seven against.

Labour councillors backed the plan, while two Lib Dems, one Green councillor and four Conservatives voted against it.

Cllr Kelly used his casting vote as chair to block the development.