Plans to demolish a former medical centre and build six homes have been thrown out.

The proposals for St Andrews Court in Tunbridge Wells were discussed at planning committee on Wednesday night where councillors decided to refuse planning permission.

An application was made to create three, four-bedroom, semi-detached townhouses in the brownfield site in Southborough.

It would have seen the vacant medical centre demolished.

The blueprints included 12 parking spaces, bin and bike storage and garden areas.

Council officers had recommended planning permission was approved prior to the committee meeting but this was challenged by members.

Cllr Godfrey Bland (Con) was the first to voice refusal on the grounds of overlooking and "over development".

This was echoed by Cllr Alex Britcher-Allan (Lab).

She added: "If the applicant came back with another amendment for more space, that would be something I would be happy to support.

"Why should we allow sub-standard developments go through?"

Issues regarding emergency service access were raised by Cllr Raymond Moon (Lab) as he pointed out the lack of space for turning for larger vehicles.

He added: "I welcome brownfield sites being developed but the problem is they are not always the right place and the right time.

"I feel there are overwhelming issues in this application that are not to be compromised."

Despite this, support for the scheme was given by Cllr Matthew Bailey (Independent).

He said: "Normally when we have six homes, it is normally concreting over a green space somewhere.

"If we do have this brownfield sites in a lot of highly developed areas, I think it is a good idea to use them and to the maximum, reasonable extent we can."

The developers wanted to create a "small, contemporary sustainable housing development" to support the borough's need for housing.

But the application was refused by 12 councillors with only one voting to grant permission.

It was thrown out on the grounds of overlooking and over development as raised by Cllr Bland.

The GP surgery moved out of the site in 2021 to the nearby Southborough Hub.