THE demolition of an old cinema building on Rickmansworth High Street has been stalled after planning permission was rejected last week.

The plans for a three-storey office building to replace the existing two-floor office were branded "unattractive" by Three Rivers district councillors at a planning meeting on Thursday.

Council leader Ann Shaw said: "This design may be fine on an industrial estate but it is not appropriate for Rickmansworth High Street. Just because there are some incongruous buildings there already, we need not add to them. We need a building to enhance the High Street."

The building was converted from a cinema into offices in the early 1980s.

Architects are now working with council officers to amend the plans and improve the design on behalf of KMN (Sed) Ltd.

An archaeological survey is also to be carried out at the site, which was once a brewery, to check for contamination.