A decision on a controversial village housing plan, south of Ibstock, for almost 60 homes has been delayed - amid claims it would turn the area into a "concrete jungle".

If approved, the 58 homes would be built on land adjacent to a garage in Newbold Road, Barlestone, with an existing house being bulldozed to provide access to the development.

The application, by Maruti Developments, was set to be discussed at the latest meeting of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council last week, but the plans were withdrawn at the last minute.

There had been 34 objections made to the council about the scheme, with the developer making a number of changes as a result.

Objectors expressed concerns over the number of new homes that are being built elsewhere in the village, with one telling the council: "The beautiful countryside of Barlestone village will soon be lost and it will eventually become Barlestone town and a concrete jungle."

Residents also argued the site was not part of Barlestone's neighbourhood plan, and that other sites which had been identified in the plan should be built on instead.

There had also been objections from the council's waste team, which had issues with the layout and how it would affect bin collections. Barlestone Parish Council also objected, saying that in addition to the nearby Garden Farm development and another scheme between the village and neighbouring Osbaston, it would be "too much for the village to cope with to have this additional development".

Following the response from objectors, the developer reduced the number of homes from the originally proposed 64 in order to make changes to the layout. A report by planning officers reveals the changes were made to address the concerns from the waste team, as well as potential issues with drainage, open space and noise.

The developer has said there will be a range of one- to five-bedroom homes, and that 24 of them will be classed as affordable. The nine-acre site is described in planning documents as "underutilised agricultural land", with a part of it having previously been used to store motor vehicles. In planning documents, the developer says the homes will be a "significant boost" to the village and borough's housing supply, adding the properties will be "high quality" and "of varied size" to cater for local needs.

Planning officers had recommended members of the committee award planning permission to the scheme.

At the start of last Tuesday's meeting (May 20), Vice Chair of the planning committee Councillor James Moore confirmed the application would be discussed at a future date.