A proposal to demolish a fishing shop to be replaced with a four storey flat block has been refused by Bromley Council.

News Shopper reported last month how Hemming's Fishing Tackle located on 309-311 Beckenham Road may have been demolished to pave way for new flats.

If the plans had been accepted one of the partners of the shop said they would have looked to move premises.

A statement on the application read: "The building is of a tired appearance and makes no important or positive contribution to the street scene."

The shop is located beside a Tesco Express.

Ian Hemming, a partner of the fishing shop, said they are "now in limbo" following the decision.

He told News Shopper: "We don't own the property and we had nothing to do with the proposal. Our lease doesn't come to an end for two years.

"If the planning application had gone through our lease would have been terminated, which would have enabled us to move elsewhere.

"The longer this goes on the more negative an impact his has on us."

Mr Hemming added that the property needs "a lot of money to bring it up to appropriate standard".

He said the business had been affected negatively because of the planning application.