A developer has withdrawn a £140 million plan to regenerate a town.

Oakdene Homes has gone back to the drawing board after residents in Newhaven identified a number of problems with the plan, which would involve developing the marina and railway areas of the town.

The company also wants time to gather more details about aspects of the plan including the flood risk and contaminated land, before it is put before Lewes District Council.

It is expected to submit a fresh application for the proposed development in the next couple of months.

The current plans include 334 new flats split into ten blocks at the marina, along with a marina office and club room, bars, shops and workshops.

At the station there would be 188 flats split into three blocks, as well as seven town houses and a 273-space car park.

Two former railway sheds would be converted into an entertainments complex with a bar, restaurant, shops, an art gallery, gym, nightclub and hotel.

The developments would be phases three and four of a plan to regenerate the port. Oakdene has already built 111 homes at the marina.

Town and district councillor Judith Ost said residents were broadly supportive of the plans, although there had been some areas of concern.

She said: "One issue was that the apartment blocks overlooking Gibbon Road were just too tall. People weren't dead set against them but they were taller than expected.

"Apparently they had been raised because of the flood risk and also new regulations about the minimum height of individual storeys which meant that it was bigger than you might think a four-storey building would be.

"The community living at the bottom of Gibbon Road, who have been there a very long time, were worried that their two-storey properties would be overlooked.

"The residents at Mariners Wharf, in Fort Road, were also worried about loss of views and people in South Road were worried about an increase in traffic travelling right outside their doors "On the railway site, there were also some concerns that a footpath along the quay would be in darkness at night which could be a safety issue."

No one from Oakdene Homes was available for comment.

Lewes District Council received 70 letters in response to the application, including a number which expressed support for the scheme.