Plans for blocks of flats rejected for being too big were resubmitted with two more storeys on top.

Councillors turned down plans for two blocks of flats containing 58 homes on the site of a pub in Fore Street, Edmonton, in October 2017.

The four and seven-storey buildings were judged to be an overdevelopment, with not enough affordable homes or family units, lack of parking and the loss of a public house.

But the council’s decision was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate, and councillors were dumbfounded when resubmitted plans were found to be larger and subject to similar problems.

Speaking at a meeting of the planning committee last night (Wednesday, July 11), Cllr Jim Steven, Conservative member for Town ward, said: “At the last one, I objected to this because it was overdevelopment, then I look at it now and find out there’s more development than what there was.

“Now we are putting more in, when we said there were too many anyway. Can somebody tell me why we are doing more when we asked for less?

“Would I be wasting my time to say it is overdevelopment, and too high, and you are putting another two floors up there?

“We are wasting our time saying that we’re objecting.”

Under the new proposals, 68 flats will be built in blocks of two and nine stories, with commercial units, a pub and car parking at ground level.

The plans for the site, which is next to a conservation area, have been redesigned to provide a greater volume of affordable homes and to make the building more attractive.

Planning officers said they had to weigh up a wide range of factors when making a decision, and while the new scheme was larger it, would provide more public benefits.

Kevin Tohill, planning decisions manager, said: “Everything you do has an influence and knock-on on another part of the scheme.”

Councillors raised concerns about the mix of properties that would be available, with 30 one-bed flats and only 12 three-bed units.

Cllr Mike Rye said the council needed to consider not just the scale of demand but the nature of it.

Officers said demand was high across all groups, including single people and families.

Gina Needs, Labour member for Turkey Street, also raised concerns the number of parking spaces provided – 27 – would be too low, particularly in an area with a high crime rate.

She said: “We are encouraging parents, possibly single mums, into a position where you can’t have a car, you have to get a bus and walk from the bus stop to the front door. You are going to fall over drunks, drugs and prostitution.

“I don’t see how we, as responsible councillors, can say ‘you can’t drive or have visitors’.”

Officers said high-density housing with restricted parking was a way of encouraging people to use public transport.

They added that there was demand for this type of accommodation across the capital.

Councillors approved the plans by a large majority, with eight voting in favour and two against.