The plan, for change of use of the former Garden House Hospice shop in High Street, has been rejected by North Herts District Council.

Owners of the shop had been seeking to change use from retail to allow cafe or restaurant, as well as housing or office space.

Royston Town Council’s planning committee recommended that the scheme be refused at its meeting on Monday.

Cllr Bob Smith, Royston’s mayor, said: “The district council had already refused it because it was too general. It was a full planning application with no detail of how they were going to achieve what they wanted to do. The design statement that was included stated the shop was in Liverpool.

“There were several other issues such as refuse storage on pavement in Upper King’s Street.

“It was terrible, my recommendation was that the applicant should withdraw it and sit down and talk with planning officers to come up with sensible plan.

“We were totally confused as to what they were asking for and strongly recommended refusal.”

The Garden House Hospice shop moved earlier this year to the premises formerly occupied by the Stead and Simpson shoe shop.

Cllr Smith added that the committee was opposed to more cafes or restaurants opening in the High Street.

He said: “This building would not be suitable for use as a cafe or restaurant, enough is enough.”