PLANS for a block of retirement flats and a revamped Co-op store in Minehead town centre have been refused by Somerset Council.

McCarthy and Stone wanted to demolish the Co-op, in The Avenue, and replace it with 35 apartments and a smaller store.

The development would also have meant the loss of Minehead’s only Post Office, which is located inside the Co-op.

But Somerset planners did not like the proposed design of the 3,000 sq ft new convenience store, which they said was ‘incongruous’ in relation to the wider town centre.

Chief planning officer Alison Blom-Cooper said: “The retail building, by virtue of its small scale and design, would fail to reflect the character and the appearance of The Avenue, which is characterised by two-storey buildings fronting on to a tree-lined street.”

The two-and-a-half-storey L-shaped apartment block would have provided 35 flats, 24 of them one-bedroom and 11 with two bedrooms.

Minehead town councillors strongly opposed the plans, partly because they felt the architecture of the replacement store would not be in keeping with the area.

Councillors were also concerned about extra traffic, noise from ground source heat pumps, and an absence of any affordable housing.

A spokesman for planning agents PBL said: “The Co-op is not able to compete effectively with other superstores in Minehead and is already operating as a convenience store in this location, meaning it is just too large for the range of goods that it sells.

“Co-op has been eager to explore downsize opportunities to reduce the sales floorspace so it can perform the role of a convenience store and take advantage of longer trading hours on Sundays.

“This is important during the summer months when Minehead sees a tourism increase.

“This takes account of the existing food store competition in Minehead and is the optimal size for the Co-op in this location.”