PLANS to build a 420-place free school in Norbiton have been rejected after councillors labelled the design "totally inappropriate".

The design was put forward so that Kingston Community School could move to a permanent site.

The school currently runs from a former NHS clinic in Acre Road.

Developers aimed to demolish condemned office block Kingstons House and replace it with a seven-storey building with 2,406 sq m of floor space and a basement sports hall, plus 25 flats.

Cobham Road resident Carmelina Critcher said: “It’s difficult to see how the roads will cope with the flow of cars running through.”

St James councillor Jack Cheetham quizzed supporting officers on whether there was any evidence the site’s pollution levels were "safe for children".

Cllr Lorraine Rolfe criticised a lack of disabled  parking.

School provider Chapel Street, a Christian organisation, was encouraged to return to the council with revised plans after the meeting on Wednesday, January 27.