Plans to install six camping pods at Apps Court Farm have been put on hold after councillors were unable to make a decision.

The application was recommended for refusal by planning officers due to its location on the greenbelt, but was promoted to the north area planning subcommittee for consideration by ward councillor Rachael Lake.

The pods, which would be 4.7m by 2.8m and 2.6m in height, would be used as an alternative to sleeping in a tent and would not have any lights or running water.

In their report, planning officers said although the use of the site for the pods would be fine in principle, they would not preserve the openness of the greenbelt.

Ward councillor Christine Cross, who was unable to attend the meeting, said in a letter that the application should be “permitted without any doubt” and the pods are “not harmful to the greenbelt”.

Council planning officers also said the proposed pods would be visible from a long distance because they would be located in an open part of the site.

Councillor Ian T Donaldson disagreed and said drivers in Hurst Road would not be able to see the pods and said he could not see a problem with the application.

Coun Lake, who is not a member of the committee, said the pods used for “glamping” all over greenbelt sites in Devon and Cornwall.

She said “Are we saying that Apps Court Farm is more picturesque or less open than Devon and Cornwall?”

Councillor Victor Eldridge also supported the plans, saying he thought the pods were “rather attractive”.

While discussions continued, with many councillors supporting the application, Councillor Alan Kopitko said: “We have got a lake where they are ideally suited and I don’t know why we are looking to refuse them.”

Five councillors voted to permit the application and three voted for refusal, with Councillor John O’Reilly asking for the application to be discussed at the full planning committee at a later date to allow further input from other councillors.