CONTROVERSIAL plans to build almost 300 new homes on the outskirts of York have been put on hold to the relief of local residents.

More than 30 residents packed into St Mark's Church Hall, Rawcliffe, to hear the planning committee's views on the development of 284 homes on the former Tenneco site off Manor Lane.

The developers Barratt and Persimmon want to build flats, semi-detached and terraced homes on the land.

Under the scheme, 72 of the homes would be affordable and land would be allocated for a health centre.

But the development has caused controversy among local residents with more than 20 letters written to the planning committee.

Residents said there were too many homes, which would lead to more traffic on the narrow Manor Lane, and a new school would be needed along with leisure space for young people. The parish council have also criticised the plan and believe it is unsympathetic to the area, would put too much pressure on local schools and would not provide enough vehicle access.

At the meeting planning chiefs decided to defer a decision until improvements could be made to the plan on a number of aspects such as provision for teenagers.

After the meeting, Richard Moore, the chairman of Rawcliffe Parish Council, said: "I am happy with the outcome and I hope the developers will starting talking to the parish council as well as the council officers, then we can start taking about getting the best for the site.

"I talked about 21st century thinking on the drainage, but they could also apply it to the development as a whole."

Ward councillor Mark Waudby said he was also pleased with the outcome.

He said: "Since the first set of plans came out I realised there was a lot more that needed to be done.

"At the children's play area there are older children hanging around and young children do not feel safe playing there.

"The developers said they would give us some more money, but there is not a lot else we can do to improve the site.

"What we want is something new like a skateboard park to get the old kids away from the play equipment."

Updated: 10:49 Friday, March 28, 2003