Plans for 24 new flats above shops on Chapel Street in Exmouth have been refused by East Devon District Council.

The mix of one- and two-bed flats would have formed a one-and-a-half storey extension on top of the two-storey retail units from the Devon Air Ambulance charity shop to Caffè Nero.

Giving reasons for refusing the project, the council said it would not have been "compatible with the character of the site and its surroundings", not enough flood safety information had been submitted, and the application did not include the required 25 per cent affordable housing or enough justification for not having it.

Click here to see the application.