A couple have accused Richmond Council of being “anti-family” after their plan to convert a pub into a home was thrown out.

Rob and Hannah Dutton-Waller bought the Railway in Hampton Wick this year and applied to turn it into a family home, with an unspecified number of bedrooms and office space on the ground floor.

The plan was turned down last Thursday because it did not meet council policies as no “small units of accommodation”, such as one-bedroom flats or bedsits, were included.

Mrs Dutton-Waller said: “The most frustrating thing was the resistance to anybody coming forward with a proposal for a family home.

“That seems anti-family and anti-stability.

“They are pushing mass developments of one-bedroom flats or bedsits, that’s a big problem.”

There had been objections to the plan from residents, the Hampton Wick Association and Camra about the loss of a pub, but Mrs Dutton-Waller said the couple had already moved into the three-bedroom flat above the pub and would never reopen it to drinkers.

The couple are discussing plans and are likely to come back with another application, but are in no rush.

Mrs Dutton-Waller said: “Rob and I were overwhelmed by support from neighbours, people and businesses in the area.

“People were really keen for something positive to happen there.

“We have everything we need, it was already a step up, we will work on the planning considerations, but it won’t be a pub – I have no desire to live above a pub. Architecturally, I’m not sure what is feasible.”

Councillor Virginia Morris, Richmond Council cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “To say that this administration is anti-family on the basis of one planning decision is preposterous and I reject it out of hand.

“The planning process is quasi-judicial and as such must be independent from the council.

“This particular application was subject to consultation and the planning committee considered it on its merits and made its decision in light of the existing guidelines.

“One of the reasons this application was not approved was the applicants had shown no evidence the pub could not operate as a business again in the future.

“There are elements of our local planning guidelines this administration is less than happy with and we will look to change these through the appropriate channels, but until that time, the planning committee really has no other option but to make its decision in the light of the current guidance.”