THE plans for a new hotel and spa in Malvern have been thrown out because the design is bland, unattractive and inappropriate, according to Malvern Hills District councillors.

Planning committee members rejected the scheme at Townsend Way, on the Enigma Business Park, against recommendations from planning officers. Outline planning permission was granted for an hotel and spa in 2002.

The scheme, for a 34 bedroom hotel and spa with parking for 120 cars and 20 cycle spaces, had been slated by the town council which said it should be turned down at its proposed location and resited within Great Malvern to enhance the town and build on its spa history.

The town council said: "The current proposal would merely become a mediocre health club with some letting bedrooms."

Another individual objector described the elevation treatment as "vile and crass" and said the building would resemble a 1950s secondary modern school.

In her report to the committee, planning officer Rosalyn Kirby said: "The exercise of finding a town centre location was investigated when the earlier applications were considered and no suitable sites were available."

She added that the proposals generally accord with the policies of the development plan and the design was acceptable and would not harm the character of the area.

However the committee disagreed and refused the application on the grounds that the design was bland, unattractive and inappropriate with poor windows and that it would harm the area.