Members of Stroud District Council's development control committee have voted to defer the decision on plans to build 130 new homes and a Lidl supermarket on the Avocet Industrial Estate site.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of deferring a final decision on the development until the next committee meeting on February 13.

Council officers had originally recommended that the application be rejected for a number of reasons, including the proposed demolition of a number of buildings of 'character' on the site.

Historic England had expressed concern about the scale of demolition that the plans outline:

"The buildings show part of the history evolution of the Stroud Valleys.

"Their collective presence is particularly important reflecting the working practices that created the wealth and prospects of the area. 

"Architecturally too these buildings have value depicting the style and character of their form and function."

Cllr Williams (Labour, Cainscross), who was chairing the meeting proposed a vote to 'defer for negotiation' on the grounds that formal plans should be submitted which preserve more 'character' buildings, along with concerns about noise, traffic and ecological impact also being addressed.

All eight councillors present voted in favour.

It is expected that newly submitted plans will come back to the SDC committee for consideration on February 13.