Speaking against the plan, local resident Barrie Saunders told the committee that, if approved, it would wipe out a significant amount of winter light – by as much as 80%.
He said: “We are opposing the current scheme because of the severe and unjustified harm it would cause to daylight, sunlight and residential amenity.
“This proposal will result in clear and significant lasting harm to the living conditions of existing residents.”
Another resident, who lived next to one of the proposed blocks said they were “clearly out of scale, even if it were in the town centre, which it is not”.
David Lewis, on behalf of the applicant, said: “It would deliver much needed housing in a highly sustainable town-centre location, at a time when the council has very limited housing land supply and would reduce pressure on housing in the wider countryside and villages.”
Councillors rejected the plans by six votes to two with three abstentions.