HEREFORDSHIRE Council is being asked to halt a major housing development at Leominster because it is "not green enough".

Putting in communal sheds for bicycles is not enough to make the proposed Barons Cross development environmentally friendly, says Leominster Civic Society.

It claims the 425 new homes planned for the former army hospital site will be "awkward and clumsy".

Plans submitted by developers Taylor Woodrow fail to meet the sustainability goals of the county's unitary development plan, adds the society.

Taylor Woodrow this week defended its "high quality" homes and predicted they would be popular with buyers.

But civic society chairman Robert Oliver claimed key energy conservation features were missing from the scheme.

He said Herefordshire planning guidelines called for more emphasis on terraced building, greater use of local materials, solar panels, energy saving measures additional to those required under building regulations and, by good design, getting the most out of the site including solar gain.

"The scheme does not include these features," said Mr Oliver. "The omission is of particular concern because this plan for 425 dwellings is a very large development in Herefordshire.

"We do not feel the emphasis on provision of communal bike sheds, particularly ones to store numbers in the region of 15, 24 and 40, is a realistic contribution."

The society criticised the design of homes, saying it was "surprised and disappointed by the awkward and clumsy character of the apartment blocks and houses".

Calling on Herefordshire planners to throw out the scheme, it says: "The combination of hipped roofs and gabled ends contribute to a design where the separate buildings are ungainly and have little natural relationship to each other.

"The design appears to have no inherent relationship to local character or distinctiveness."

The society calls on councillors, due to make their decision next month, to refuse planning permission "until a more attractive and sustainable scheme is produced".

Taylor Woodrow said in a statement: "The site is in a highly sustainable location, creating opportunities for green modes of travel, such as walking, cycling and public transport.

"All houses will meet current and future building regulations standards which are being progressively tightened to ensure greater energy efficiency and energy savings in all new homes.

"The scheme is of a high quality and designed to reflect the character of the surrounding environment. We are confident this will be an attractive, popular development which residents of Leominster will take pride in."