CHRISTCHURCH council have failed to make a decision on Christchurch Emporium yet again.

The application for a change of use for the shopping village in Bridge Street was due to go before the council’s planning committee on Thursday – two years after it was first submitted.

But the item was pulled at the last minute, without any prior notice.

Despite a committee report being written and published as part of the agenda, the council later said there was insufficient information.

When pressed they would only say there was conflicting information about the exact areas for each proposed use. A new decision date has not yet been set.

The shopping centre saw Molly’s Den take on half the site last month, and wants to move over to a mixed use – including shop and retail warehouse, cafe, office and conference facilities.

The scheme was recommended for approval – but only for two years.

The report to the planning committee said there were four objections from the public over the impact on footfall and High Street units and possible harm to the vitality and viability of the town centre.

In January this year, the council claimed they were still waiting for outstanding information, but hoped to make a decision “in early 2017”.

Previously they recommended the proposal for the old Mostyn’s factory in Bridge Street should not get planning permission.

Cllr Lesley Dedman, who was elected chairman of the planning committee on Thursday said she had not been made aware what information the officers still needed.

“The planning department have got to be customer focused. There is room for improvement and we will be looking at what we can do to avoid similar situations,” she said. “We will work together to improve the situation.”

The Daily Echo has previously reported how the council was forced to call in outside help over major delays to planning applications.

Last year, the authority paid an outside body to shift the backlog in registering applications.