PLANS to build an eco-friendly retirement village in Burnham have stalled after council bosses rejected new designs.

The Burnham Waters development, in Burnham, consists of highly eco-efficient bungalows, a care home with dementia wing, and independent living affordable housing apartments.

On-site facilities include a medical centre and leisure facilities such as tennis courts, a swimming pool, shops, a new bridleway and public open spaces.

The developer says it has worked with Maldon District Council over the last three years to prepare a retirement community scheme that met with local planning policies, and outline permission was granted in September.

Since September it has been working with the council's planning staff to prepare detailed designs for individual buildings.

Developers say the "contemporary and forward-looking" design approach taken reflects the content of the council’s design guide.

A reserved matters application to agree the design of the buildings and the site was submitted to the council in April.

The plans were recommended for approval.

But the proposals were refused over concerns that the contemporary design of the buildings would harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area.

Following the decision, project director Ian Holloway said: "We have listened carefully to elected members' design concerns and are redesigning all of the buildings in a traditional manner.

"An amended reserved matters application will be submitted imminently.

"However, it remains the developer’s view that there is merit in the contemporary scheme, which might be considered to be more appropriate by future generations and so we will also appeal the recent refusal of reserved matters."

For more information, visit burnhamwaters.co.uk.