A DECISION to build a pavilion on the site of Swindon's tented market has been put on ice by councillors.

The plan for restaurants, cafés and shops in Market Street was put on hold at a meeting of Swindon Council's planning committee this week.

The plans were first considered at the planning committee in January.

Then councillors decided to give the developer a chance to redesign the building. But when the committee met in February it deferred the scheme because it went against planning policy.

It said that the building would fail to achieve a high standard of urban design and or improve the character of the town.

This week officers recommended councillors throw the plans out because the view of the building from neighbouring Commercial Road was not up to scratch.

Developer Louis Davies said: "The market is closed, it will not be re-opened. This site needs to be developed and you are here to do that job. If it is not accepted we will not re-apply but will take our chances with an appeal."

Coun Doreen Dart (Con, Blunsdon) wanted to defer the application to give the developer a further chance to improve on the plans.

Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe) said that the plans were unacceptable.

And he added that they needed to be better tied into the area as Wharf Green was the most important part of Swindon's current regeneration programme.

The planning committee is hoping to review the scheme in June.