ISLINGTON Council has been sent back to the drawing board by its own planning chiefs over controversial plans for an energy plant one councillor said would look like a “crematorium”.

Designs for the Bunhill Energy Centre – already slammed by residents as too large and too industrial – do not fit with surroundings and need more work, a town hall planning committee has ruled.

The current proposal is for a brick, corrugated iron and steel structure comprising a 65ft chimney and a 46ft-high water tank, to be built on a 100 square metre car park in Central Street, Finsbury.

Councillor Phil Kelly (Labour), who sits on the committee that deferred the planning application, said: “It would look like a crematorium. It’s too industrial and it doesn’t fit in with the urban location it’s designed for. The energy centre is a very good idea in principal, but this building design has not been thought through.”

The council’s conservation and design officer had previously criticised the plans, saying: “The structure does not relate to any of the surrounding developments. It would be over-dominant in the street scene.”

Residents have also been campaigning for the project to be scrapped so the site could be used for desperately-needed green space.

But Councillor Kelly said: “We’re realistic. Who’s going to pay to turn it into open space? Not this government – and the community needs the cheaper energy.”

Islington Council says the centre will provide cheaper and greener energy and heat to more than 700 homes.