Plans for a “monstrous eyesore” apartment block near Aberystwyth harbour that would be “more suited to a city” have been rejected by planners after scores of complaints from nearby residents.

A total of 89 objections were lodged over plans submitted to Ceredigion County Council planners to build an eight-storey block of flats on steep, sloping land adjacent to Aberystwyth marina.

The plans for six two-bedroom flats built on the site, would “benefit the wider community”, developers said, but were this week rejected by planners for being “too tall”.

The building as designed would be almost 30m high, planning documents outline.

The plans were lodged in conjunction with contentious plans to build a three-storey building containing six two-bedroom flats on land at Yr Hen Stabl in Llanbadarn Fawr.

The Llanbadarn development, which itself has attracted more than a dozen complaints, would have been used to offset the affordable home requirement at the marina site, developers said.

In planning documents, developers Ellis D&B Ltd, said the site is “not visually prominent” and “the proposal has been designed to complement existing development throughout the surrounding area whilst introducing a more contemporary architectural style of outstanding quality”.

Objectors, however, said the building “is completely out of character” and would “dominate the harbour.”

Among the 89 letters received by the planning department objecting to the proposal, reasons included land ownership issues; loss of parking area; height and design of building out of proportion and character with immediate area; land stability issues; overlooking and loss of privacy; disruption during development; landscape concerns; too much residential development ongoing in area; development will detrimentally impact wildlife in area; density of development too large; and concern over flood risk.

Aberystwyth Town Council “strongly objected” to the scheme amid “strong local objection”, with members saying the plans “represent over-development” and that the “design is not in keeping” with the area.

Natural Resources Wales also said it has “significant concerns with the development as submitted.”

The highways department, while not objecting to the principle of the development, said it considers the “scheme as it stands to be premature”, with “several amendments” needed to meet parking and road safety criteria.

A planning officer’s report said that objections “do not merit any change in the final recommendation of the application”, and “whilst the principle of development is acceptable it is considered that the proposed structure as it stands is too tall.”

“As it stands the building would provide a detrimental impact on the streetscene and be in conflict with the character of the area,” the report added.