Councillors have decided to postpone a decision over an application to build 14 new affordable homes in York.

As previously reported by The Press, the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust is hoping to build the homes in Garthway, New Earswick.

The planning application - which was recommended for approval by council officers - features 14 semi-detached houses, six of which as two-bed homes, and eight of which are three-bed homes.

In a City of York Council planning committee meeting on Thursday, August 15, councillors voted in favour of deferring the decision to a later date.

Renders of how the homes would look (Image: Planning documents)

The discussion, which lasted almost two-and-a-half hours, saw councillors query the future of a hedge at the rear end of the homes' gardens.

Some committee members also said issues such as parking and sustainability hadn't been accounted for in the original planning application.

Huntington and New Earswick ward councillor, Cllr Keith Orrell, said: "I think there's so many things that we're not sure about with this application, deferral is the right way to go forward.

"I'm not against this development, but there's so many loose ends in terms of the hedges, the parking, in terms of what Cllr Vassie raised about sustainability."

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Wheldrake ward's Cllr Christian Vassie said more information was required from Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust about the plans.

He added: "We come here to make determinations of things that are put in front of us, too many things we're told will be done later.

"What I'm quite sure is the applicant is able to put forward all that stuff that is required.

"I want to be able to make a judgement and use the energies and skills that I've developed over the years, as the rest of us have, to make a decision over a more complete proposal than we've got here."

However, the committee wasn't unanimous over the deferral.

Renders of how the homes would look (Image: Planning documents)

"It meets parking policy, it meets climate policy, the hedgerow is going to be dealt with via the management plan," said Cllr Jason Rose, of Acomb ward.

"I don't see a single ground for deferral from all the conversation we've had.

"I think it would be ludicrous for us to defer or reject."

Responding to the decision, a spokesperson from the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust said: "We are working with the City of York Council to promptly provide any additional information needed to advance this application as quickly as possible."