A bid to create an additional 56 parking spaces at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Ely, has been put on hold.

The uncertainty follows intervention from county highways officials.

The proposal, to redevelop an area of land – previously used for a boiler house- would have seen more parking provided by the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust.

The trust says there is an “identified need” for more parking and the existing access points would be suitable.

But East Cambridgeshire District Council refused the application on the grounds it was “not supported by sufficient transport information”.

The county highways authority wants to know more about the impact of extending the car park on the local roads network.

“This application is not supported by sufficient transport information to demonstrate that the proposed development would not be prejudicial to the satisfactory functioning of the highway,” says the district council.

The council insists their policies are to require a transport statement “where appropriate to reflect the extent of transport implications in relation to the number of trips generated and how the distribution might impact on the operation of the local road network.”

The site was originally known as RAF Ely and provided medical and surgical treatment to services personnel. Following the closure of the base it became an NHS hospital.