A six-storey block of flats in Wimbledon has been approved, three years after an identical application was refused.

The plan to demolish the first and second floors of 141 The Broadway and build a six storey block of 16 one and two bedroom flats came before Merton Council’s planning committee on Thursday (September 20).

The officers report stated that in October 2015 an identical application was refused by the planning committee.

An appeal was then dismissed as there was no legal agreement on affordable housing.

But the applicant, Parkgate Properties Ltd, has submitted the new scheme using different materials and with four units of affordable housing, two for rent.

Resident Sara Sharp spoke in objection to the plans, saying: “The design doesn’t even fit in with the council’s tall buildings paper which the officer said is pertinent to this application.

“It is conditional – tall buildings may be acceptable if they have exceptional design and architectural quality.”

She added that design of new buildings in Wimbledon “overpowered by shabby mish mash and flanked by sub standard short term lazy modern models in chequered metal and now boxy glass and render”.

Agent for the applicant Sundeep Singh addressed some of the concerns of the 19 public objections.

In relation to traffic and the impact of the building on parking he said due to the location there was no policy that says car parking is needed for the development.

The plans were given the green light by the planning committee.