A controversial plan for a massive development in Swanley which would have included multi-storey buildings has been unanimously thrown out by councillors.

U+i Group, the owners of Swanley Square Shopping Centre, wanted to build more than 300 homes across three blocks, one of which would be 11 floors high.

But members of Sevenoaks development control committee felt the scheme, which included business units and shops, would make the town more like a London borough.

Cllr Michael Horwood, speaking after the meeting, also slammed the developer’s lack of proposed car parking spaces.

He said: “The height and bulk was completely out of proportion, but creating seven extra car parking spaces to cater for 303 new apartments, as well as all the shoppers and workers in the new retail units, is frankly developer’s greed at its worst.”

He added: “The proposals put forward would have made this one of the tallest buildings in the whole of Sevenoaks District and Dartford Borough, making Swanley feel like a London borough, rather than a proud Kentish town.”

In its second planning application U+i Group said: “As owners of Swanley Square Shopping Centre, we see a fantastic opportunity to drive change in Swanley.

“U+i’s objective is for the regeneration of the town centre to be a catalyst for socio-economic improvement, which in turn will begin to generate civic pride and responsibility.”

Cllr Horwood, who also sits on Kent County Council, said: “U+i needs to go back to the drawing board and come back with a scheme that does not dominate the landscape for miles, as well as making far more parking spaces to cater for all the new residents, shoppers and workers.”

The developer’s previous application, submitted in June last year included a 13-storey building, but it was withdrawn as it was likely to be refused.

The company specialises in town centre regeneration and has other sites across the south east.