CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish an empty city office block and build 82 retirement flats were approved on Thursday despite strong opposition from residents.

McCarthy and Stone’s proposal to replace the former Aviva building in Castle Street with a retirement and assisted-living complex faced heavy criticism for its design.

Councillors and residents lined up to slate the appearance of the building, which was likened to a prison block and a Victorian workhouse.

Salisbury resident Geoff Venner spoke passionately against the “appalling, dreadful” proposal, branding it “unbelievable madness” and a “huge new horror” that would “cast a dark shadow” over the street.

“This plan is wrong, totally wrong,” he said.

Several members of the southern area planning committee shared Mr Venner’s concerns.

John Smale likened the design to “some of the blocks at Dartmoor”, but added: “The city council seem to be happy with it and they have got to live with it.”

Sven Hocking branded it “mind-numbingly dull”, and Ian McLennan said the building resembled a workhouse.

He said the area risked becoming an “old folks’ corner” and a “ghetto” for the elderly.

Chris Devine said: “This is a big-money development, surely they could come up with something a little bit different?”

But city council leader Matthew Dean said aesthetic concerns were not sufficient grounds to refuse the scheme and warned that if the council lost an appeal it would lose any section 106 money from the developer.

He also said design issues “should have been raised months ago” during extensive talks with the architect.

Councillor Jose Green said the design was “pretty abysmal” and George Jeans said it was “dreadfully bland”.

But committee chairman Fred Westmoreland said the entire building was covered in brickwork detailing which was not clear from the plans.

Supporting the scheme, he said: “We could be quite surprised when we actually see it in the flesh.”

Ward councillor Atiqul Hoque, who previously said the scheme would “kill the city” and turn it into “a ghost town” before making a u-turn and supporting it, said he was disappointed with the design.

Despite aesthetic concerns, the committee approved the plans by eight votes to three.

McCarthy and Stone’s Shane Paul said the “high quality, vibrant active frontage for the site”, would “positively contribute to the character of the local area”.