CONTROVERSIAL proposals to build affordable homes on public open space at Creekmoor have been deferred by Poole's cabinet.

Councillors agreed they needed more information before deciding if the corner of land at Northmead land in front of Millfield should be redesignated from open space as suitable to build 10 or 15 new homes.

The item is due to return to Borough of Poole's cabinet in September with more information from officers. However members gave their approval to the locally listed two-storey lodge at Poole Cemetery, currently valued at £235,000 being refurbished and converted from a home for a caretaker/groundsman into a family property to be let on a long lease.

Ward member Cllr John Rampton, who is also cabinet portfolio holder for environment and consumer protection, said: "For the moment it is going back to the drawing board."

He said: "It is going to come back in September to be done properly. The report wasn't complete enough. There was not enough information about how to mitigate open space or how much land was required."

The site under consideration was only a corner of the open space and involved only a small number of properties, he said.

He added: "I would say I do support the provision of some affordable housing in that area in principle."

However he added: "We need to know how we are going to mitigate any loss of public space."

Liberal Democrat councillor Phil Eades criticised the Conservative administration for failing to consult residents about the proposal ahead of the meeting. He said while the development of much needed affordable housing was to be welcomed, "It should not be on precious areas of public open green space, and it certainly shouldn't be happening behind the backs of those residents that will be affected by it."

The report that went before cabinet said: "There are competing demands for all land in council ownership. Every site brought forward for potential affordable housing has been rigorously tested by officers against operational, financial and community need."