Regeneration work on a Roehampton estate will go ahead, after the Secretary of State refused an application to protect a block of flats.

Wandsworth Council intended to work on Allbrook House and Roehampton Library, as part of the Alton area regeneration, but this was delayed because of an application to have the buildings listed for architectural or historic interest.

A report by Historic England says the house and library has "poorly resolved urban context" and internally, is dark and unpleasant.

It is also noted that the alterations in the library mean it is only an architectural shell of its original building.

Wandsworth Times:

An artist impression of how the space could look following the regeneration programme.

The report reads: "Unlike the other listed buildings on the estate, Allbrook House and Roehampton Library do not have the requisite special architectural and historic interest to be listed."

Following the report, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, John Whittingdale MP, confirmed there would be no listing.

Councillor Steffi Sutters, who represents West Putney, said: "This has been a distraction from the serious business of regeneration and providing homes for our residents.

"It has been a huge waste of time and public funds given that the same buildings were previously assessed and found to be wanting and in the meantime nothing has changed to make them listable."

Allbrook House and the library are located at the gateway to the Alton Estate, a site which has been earmarked for new homes and modern community facilities including a new library and village green.

If they had been listed this key part of the Alton Area Masterplan would have to have been rethought, despite two years of consultation with residents and stakeholders and unanimous backing from councillors.

Historic England was consulted during the planning process for the site, and raised no objections at that stage. Justine Greening MP also wrote to Historic England to object to listing the buildings.

Council leader Ravi Govindia said: "We are pleased that both the Secretary of State and Historic England share our view and have rejected the listing application.

"We can now put this expensive waste of time behind us and get on with developing the plans to improve this area and providing the new homes and modern community facilities local people want.

"The fact is that neither Allbrook House nor the library match the quality of the other protected buildings on the estate.

"They were not executed as originally planned and create an awkward, unattractive and poorly functioning entrance from Roehampton Lane.

"At ground floor level they provide dark, isolated spaces which attract anti-social behaviour and cause local people real concern.

"Common sense has prevailed."