THE developer of Malvern's North Site housing scheme has been asked to go back to the drawing board and come up with some more attractive and defining architectural features for the apartment blocks at the entrance.

Detailed plans of phase one of the development, which involves building 76 new homes, went before members of the Malvern Hills District Council southern area development control committee.

The committee considered two applications - one for the homes and another for the spine road and drainage on the development - from Persimmon Homes for the former Defence Evaluation Research Agency site off Leigh Sinton Road.

The homes range from two-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom houses and 48 would be put up for sale on the open market, while 28 would be affordable homes built for Elgar Housing Association. Of those, 18 would be available for rent and 10 would be for shared ownership.

The taller apartment blocks are to be positioned at the entrance to the site creating a gateway and to help people with their orientation around the development.

Chairman of the committee, Councillor Paul Tuthill, said: "There needs to be some nice features to define the entrance and exit to this phase of the development. We also want revised eco-friendly features that are the best practice in energy standards."

The development control committee has set up a working party of six councillors to look at amended plans for the apartments from the developer and the latest energy-saving features.

Once these are agreed the head of sustainable environment Gary Williams is authorised to approve the development and the spine road and drainage as long as there is no objection or conditions from the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.

There had been 17 letters raising concerns about an array of issues, including loss of light and outlook to nearby homes, traffic, landscaping, the visual impact of the development, the strain on local schools and amenities and storm water drainage.

Coun Tuthill said the committee spent two hours looking at the two applications and praised the officers for the information that was presented to the meeting.