MDM Homes Ltd’s plans for the waterside community on Lock Lane – including businesses and 70 car parking spaces – were turned down at Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee meeting on Friday.

Alison Drake, chairman of Castleford Heritage Trust, spoke at the meeting on behalf of dozens of residents who objected to the scheme.

She said: “We’re extremely relieved and delighted at the committee’s decision.

“This must set a precedent to get the right sort of development for our riverside.

“The new Castleford footbridge has set a standard and what regenerates the area has got to be of the same quality.”

The development was recommended for refusal because it would have been in a restricted zone surrounding the former Hickson and Welch chemical factory.

Councillors also complained that there were parking, traffic and design problems.

Castleford Coun Mark Burns-Williamson, chairman of Castleford Town Centre Partnership, told the meeting: “Lock Lane is one of the busiest roads in Castleford.

“We’ve got a town centre strategy in place and I have no doubt that further regeneration will come along the riverside.

“What we don’t need is for this to set the standard in terms of size and scale – we don’t want to close the riverside off.”

Airedale councillor Yvonne Crewe added: “The apartments are not for people of our area because they can’t afford them.

“We want proper family homes in the area – flats are built and then they can’t be got rid of.”

Castleford Coun Tony Wallis was concerned that the apartments would have poor pedestrian access and their size was “not appropriate” for the town.

Bosses at MDM Homes Ltd told the committee they wanted to “open up” the riverside and bring about £20m of investment to Castleford with the part five-storey part eight-storey development.

Speaking after the meeting, project manager Antony Georgallis said: “We are very disappointed. Castleford’s just never going to move forward is it?

“I’m not sure whether we will appeal now.”