BUSINESSES have spoken of their frustration after a fourth bid to build shops and flats in Wallingford Street, Wantage, was thrown out.

Vale of White Horse District Council rejected plans to build two shops and 24 flats, against the planning officers’ recommendation, because it didn’t contain any affordable housing.

The plan was submitted by planning consultant Ken Dijksman, of Newbury, who is also behind the scheme for a 30,000-home garden city near East Hanney, on behalf of developer Vanderbilt Homes.

Mike Rowe, who owns Rowe’s newsagent on Wallingford Street with his wife Lyn said: “I find it quite frustrating that a fourth plan has been thrown out.”

He said there was “a demand for housing”, and “a need for businesses”.

Vanderbilt sought to build identical replicas of two 18th-century buildings in Wallingford Street – Blanchard Fabrics and James Heating Services – which it demolished in 2011.

The Vale originally granted Vanderbilt permission to refurbish the buildings, but the developer said a planning survey revealed the buildings were structurally unsafe. Since then it has submitted three applications to build varying numbers of shops and flats on the site.

Wantage Town Council objected to the latest plan, as an “overdevelopment” wanting fewer homes on the site.

Vanderbilt land and planning director Geoff Murrain said he was “saddened” by the councillors’ decision.