Despite an emotional protest outside County Hall by staff and families, Save the Family lost its lengthy battle with Flintshire planners to convert Flint Chapel into apartments to help homeless people settle back into the community.

The charity's founder, Edna Speed MBE, said that following a decision against changes to conditions of the planning permission, the conversion of the chapel on Chester Road in Flint would not be able to go ahead and lottery funding would no longer be available for the project.

The charity, based at Plas Bellin in Northop Hall, wanted to create homes, an office, kitchen and activity room.

Permission was granted on appeal in October 2006, but the charity had to gain control of the whole site because access and parking is shared with funeral directors.

This proved to be a stumbling block, and the charity asked planners for an alternative option.

At the meeting, Cllr Ken Richardson supported the planning application.

He said: "Looking at all the letters we have received, I feel so sorry for these people.

"To see all these children and babies outside – if we refuse this application today we should hang our heads in shame."

Cllr Ron Hampson also backed the charity and said: "With the homelessness problem we've got in this county at the moment, it would be a tragedy if we missed this opportunity."

Cllr Owen Thomas also backed the plans, saying the reason for refusing permission was "not good enough" with the housing situation as it is.

But the majority of councillors at the committee agreed that there was "no material change" in circumstances since the appeal was granted, and therefore it should be refused.

Cllr Derek Butler said councillors should use their heads and not their hearts to decide on planning issues.

He added: "This is a planning committee, not a social services committee."

Flint councillor Ian Roberts said: "I was told to make planning decisions on what is in front of me.

"Many men spent hours and hours and hours trying to make base metal into gold.

"You can't turn a bad planning application into a good planning application based on who the applicant is.

"Planning decisions need to be made on planning matters."

Cllr Chris Bithell referred to a previous application by another charity, Capricorn Animal Rescue, which was refused by the committee on planning matters, despite an emotional plea.

After the meeting, Nikki Eastwood, a researcher for Save the Family, said: "The dead got a better deal than the living today and our children and adults were compared to cats and dogs."

Mrs Speed said after the meeting: "There are families without a roof over their head, whether they acknowledge that or not.