An attempt to get a planning application for St Clement’s car park reconsidered by councillors has failed.

Developer Watkin Jones Group wants to build an £8m student accommodation complex on the city centre site, cutting the number of car parking spaces from 120 to 76.

Last Wednesday, a city council planning committee went against officers’ recommendations by turning down the application, even though the council would net £5m from the development.

Labour’s Colin Cook, who had backed the proposals, tried to get 12 councillors to call for the decision to be looked at again.

But he had failed to get enough signatures by 5pm on Monday.

He said: “I suspect that people were perhaps expecting it to go to appeal.

“I suspect the developer will either go away and come back with amended plans, or will appeal the decision.”

Sietske Boeles, who had opposed the development, said: “It seems members are listening to residents and traders, who bombarded them with emails and letters over the weekend asking them not to back the call-in.

“We are not worried by an appeal because we think the application was turned down for the right planning reasons.”

Watkin Jones Group, which paid a £356,000 non-returnable deposit to the council, was unavailable for comment.