Plans for a crematorium in Canterbury have been put on the backburner after a wave of opposition prompted council officers to recommend the application’s refusal.

Crematorium chain Mercia wants to build the site with a chapel and memorial garden on land in St Stephen’s Hill.

However, in the face of nearly 100 objections, the firm opted to pull its bid and re-submit an amended version that would attract “a more favourable response”.

The plans were due to be discussed at a meeting of the city council’s development management committee on Tuesday evening.

Councillors were expected to reject the bid on the basis of planning officer Cullum Parker’s report, which recommended refusal in light of concerns raised.

“Having reviewed the officer’s committee report further, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw the planning application..." - Andy Marshall

Mercia’s head of planning Andy Marshall said: “Having reviewed the officer’s committee report further, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw the planning application.

“We will now concentrate on overcoming the suggested reasons for refusal, and hope to be able to submit a revised application capable of obtaining a more favourable response in due course.”

Critics of the plans raised concerns about the development’s effect on the conservation area and views overlooking the city.

Doubt was also cast over Mercia’s claims that another site was needed in the area, by opponents including funeral directors across the district and Barham crematorium.

Richard Evans, the managing director of Kent County Crematoria Ltd, which runs Barham Crematorium, said: “The service at Barham is much-admired by the local community.

“We have been overwhelmed by the public reaction and it shows how important our service is to the bereaved we care for.”

Mr Evans also said he thought opposition to the development had been fuelled by its poor location and Mercia’s lack of understanding of the area.

If approved, the new crematorium would have been built by Mercia and run by the Co-operative Group, which has funeral care centres in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Faversham.