PLANS for 21 homes on the site of a former sheltered housing complex at Elm have been put on hold to give developers time to come up with a better design.

A scheme by Roddons Housing Association to demolish The Dale and develop the land at Begdale Road has been deferred by Fenland District Council Planning Committee.

The former block of flats is boarded up while Roddons wait to get the go ahead to start work.

The aim is to build 14 two-bed homes and seven three-bed properties in a range of four different designs.

Elm Parish Council and two villagers objected to the plan saying it was over development.

Planning officers recommended approval but councillors felt the design and layout needed improving and deferred a decision.

Roddons has said that all the properties will be set aside for affordable housing.

A second scheme by Roddons to provide affordable housing at Eastrea was also deferred.

Plans to build 14 two-storey homes on an overgrown plot of land south of Wype Road were withdrawn from the agenda and deferred to enable planning officers to explore issues regarding affordable housing.

Whittlesey Town Council rejected the application on grounds of over intensification of the site, lack of footpaths, concerns over bin collections and that houses would look out of character with the area.