A proposal to demolish two properties and build a nine-bed home has been refused after being labelled "visually intrusive" by Havering Council.

Applicant Mr K Durrani had plans to erect a two-storey, nine-bed home at 25-27 Mill Park Avenue in Hornchurch rejected by the council late last month.

The plans, P0558.24, were received on April 18 and validated a day later.

How the development would look was the primary issue identified by the council.

"Through its design, scale, bulk, depth and proximity to the shared boundaries (it) would form an incongruous and visually cramped form of development.

"[This would be] at odds with the character of the surrounding area to the detriment of the visual amenity of the locality," the council stated in its reasons for refusal.

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In a heritage statement from town planning consultancy Fuller Long, it was revealed the site is not within a designated conservation area, but near the boundary of the St Andrew's conservation area to the east.

"Also set to the east and within the conservation area designation is the grade II listed Mill Cottage," it added.

Fuller Long had sought to reassure the council that the development would not harm the cottage setting.

"The distance between the new house and the listed building, as well as the high levels of intervening mature tree cover, mean there will be no harm to its setting."

However, the council said: "The proposed dwelling would form a visually intrusive and overbearing feature within the rear garden environment due to the excessive depth of the proposed rear projections."

Concerns were also raised that an oak tree and others protected under a Tree Preservation Order would be harmed.

The heritage statement had sought to argue the "heavily wooded" character of the western edge of the conservation area near the site would mean the development would not affect views in and out of it.

But the council did not accept this reasoning.

"There are concerns that the proposed development would [...]  be materially harmful to the character and amenity of the surrounding area," the council added.