Repeated calls for the introduction of specialist planning measures to block high-rise buildings in parts of Harrow have been rebuffed.

Harrow Conservatives’ spokesperson on planning Cllr Marilyn Ashton (Con, Stanmore Park) argued at a cabinet meeting on Thursday (March 18) that supplementary planning documents (SPDs) would deter developers from submitting applications for large tower blocks in suburban areas and reassure people living there.

But Cllr Graham Henson (Lab, Roxbourne) said (SPDs) in Harrow would be the “wrong mechanism” to protect parts of the borough from overdevelopment.

He suggested they would “automatically fail” if used as a defence at an appeal following refusal of an application and said the wider issue would be reviewed as part of the borough’s next local plan.

Cllr Ashton cited an application for an aparthotel in Vaughan Road Car Park – that was refused permission on Wednesday (March 17) based on planning officers’ recommendations – as an example of the sort of schemes the council should look to avoid.

“[SPDs] don’t carry as much weight, but they would go some way to help resist some of the excesses we’ve seen,” Cllr Ashton said.

“Residents are very anxious about this and there’s something we can do – it’s not perfect, it’s not ideal, but it will help somewhat.”

She added any aspects of a new local plan are unlikely to be in operation for at least a couple of years and believes SPDs would be some sort of a solution for the interim.

However, Cllr Henson stood by his position that SPDs would be ineffective and said the council should “challenge tall buildings in the right and proper way”.

He explained this should be built around a new local plan, supported by a ‘characterisation and tall buildings study’ which has been commissioned.

He pointed out this study will provide “evidence” that will help shape any future policy.

Cllr Henson added he is “not in favour of overly tall buildings in the wrong environment” but that, in his view, an “arbitrary cap” on heights brought about by SPDs is not the way to avoid them.

The borough’s Conservative Group submitted a motion at a full council meeting in February which sought to employ SPDs to limit the height of tower blocks in suburban areas to six storeys.

However, it was rejected by the Labour administration on the same grounds outlined by the council leader at the cabinet meeting.