Rapturous applause from most quarters met the decision to allow St Raphael's church to erect two blocks of flats in Maple Road.

The controversial plans to replace the existing buildings between 100 and 104 with the 21 flats was originally refused by Kingston Council.

But having been recommended for approval by officers, and told that if the application went to appeal the council would have little chance of winning, the development control committee were powerless to resist.

The vote was by no means unanimous and for some clearly begrudging but a packed committee room, mainly St Raphael's parishioners, greeted the decision with a huge roar of approval.

Yet the committee members made sure to voice their concern over the plans, whose revenue the church wants to use for renovation work.

Chair of the Development Control committee Councillor Vicki Harris said: "I think this is a difficult application to come back to us. All the reasons why we refused it last time it was here remain as it is an identical application. But the local planning authority has been overturned by somebody who lives a long way away. Of course we want to see this wonderful building brought back to a better state of repair. But this is not the right way to do it."

Councillor Ian George added: "Knocking down those buildings and replacing them with flats is pushing it over the edge. I think it would be a real shame. We all want to help the church and the community that would benefit but this won't be of benefit to other people. It will harm the area for years to come."