Plans to knock down the former Sainsbury store in Gloucester and build 55 flats have been deferred over concerns the "generic" design would repeat mistakes of the past.

Proposals by London-based Clarehouse Developments tipped to total £6m would see the red brick building at 63-69 Northgate Street demolished.

It would be replaced by three residential blocks ranging from three to five storeys high with a 121sqm retail unit fronting into Northgate Street.

Cllr Sarah Sawyer (LD, Longlevens) said: "I like this apart from one element. The design and brick colour on Hare Lane.

"This new design will be between those two gorgeous 16th Century buildings and I think the grey brick does not fit with the rest of the street which is predominantly white with black timber.

"I've walked down that street before and looked at the Sainsbury's building and thought 'how did that get permission'.

"So I was really pleased when I heard it would be knocked down but then I saw the plans and thought "oh no we are going to repeat the same mistake."

She added: "The design is bland. It just doesn't fit with the rest of the street. It looks like it has just been plonked."

The Civic Trust also said the design "lacks imagination" while Historic England dubbed it a "anonymous architecture approach".

Cllr Paula Dee (C, Tuffley) and Cllr Angela Conder (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) agreed.

Cllr Condor said: "I agree it is a generic design. It is difficult to know how to remedy this design but certainly the colour scheme could be improved. I would be hard pressed to say what local character is in Gloucester in terms of design but I can say this is not it."

The site is owned by Mountcharm Ltd. which appointed Rackham planning and Factor 9 Design to create the scheme.

It would include 34 one-beds, 19 two-beds and two three- beds, of which 11 homes would be affordable.

The development has been designed to be car-free but two disabled spaces have been proposed off the Hare Lane car park.

During the meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday (March 5) Lloyd Griffiths, bursar at King's School, raised concerns over road safety in Pitt Street and asked that they be addressed before any development took place.

He said there have been many near misses over the years with cars "speeding" down the road, parked cars and children walking on narrow pavement.

Four letters from residents were received by the council with concerns raised about the redevelopment "exacerbate existing difficulties for pedestrians on Pitt Street", noise and dust caused by the building works, the lack of parking and the impact on Raven Centre elderly persons centre.

Will Collins, representing the applicant, called on the committee to approve the scheme.

He said: "The applicant has taken a great deal of care to design this scheme. Feedback has been taken from the council on the design and the impact on the two heritage buildings is outweighed by the benefits of the scheme."

Chairman Cllr Gordon Taylor (C, Abbeymead) said he didn't agree with refusing or deferring the scheme and added: "I'm broadly supportive of the scheme. I think it will bring a site that's been left in disuse for a long time right in the heart of our city back into use."

Cllr Steve Morgan (C, Grange) said: "I think on balance this is a well thought out scheme to replace an empty building with much needed housing."

Cllr Sawyer proposed deferring the scheme and said: ""I just think what have we got to lose? "Architects could easily change that to fit in more.

"Ideally I would like it to look like it has always been there. Sainsburys didn't.

"We have a chance now for generations to come to say 'come on architects show us what you can do'."

The committee voted to defer the plans by seven votes to four.