A final decision on whether Europe's tallest observation wheel can be built on the Newcastle Quayside will be delayed until this summer.
Spectacular designs were unveiled last year for the 460ft tall 'Whey Aye' wheel - part of a £100m 'Giants on the Quayside' development at Spillers Quay that would also include a 39ft statue named 'The Geordie Giant', a food and drink complex, and other sport and leisure attractions.
Developers had hoped to secure planning approval for the ambitious project in March or April, but concerned city council bosses have warned that there are still a number of issues with the proposals that need to be resolved.
Local authority documents reveal that the World Wheel Company has been asked to consider alternative sizes for the giant wheel, while the council has also questioned cycle route improvements that are "lacking in the detail" and told the developer to take greater care protecting the kittiwakes nesting on the Quayside.
Fears were also raised by Newcastle International Airport that the wheel could be a "collision hazard" for helicopters and light aircraft flying around the River Tyne and that its lighting could dazzle pilots.
There have already been 90 objections lodged against the plans and Newcastle City Council says it will carry out another round of public consultation on the huge plans before making a decision on whether to give them the green light.
A spokesman said: "The council is continuing to consider the application alongside the feedback received from the public and statutory bodies.
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"We have asked the applicant for further information on a number of areas and are awaiting their response. Once we receive the information we will assess it and also carry out a further round of consultation.
"The application will then be presented to planning committee for consideration, which we expect to do in the summer."
Phil Lynagh, CEO of the World Wheel Company's Newcastle operation, said: "We are currently awaiting confirmation from the Local Planning Authority regarding all the additional information required and we are working with our professional team to deliver the necessary addendum to the original submission, made in December last year, by the end of April.
"We are hopeful of getting the development in front of the planning committee in the summer."
According to a letter sent on February 27, the council's planning office has asked the developer to explain why alternative sizes for the giant wheel have not been pursued.
They also say that promised upgrades to the area's cycling infrastructure are "lacking in the detail" and asked for more computer-generated images of how the site will look at night and in winter.
The letter adds that the development's impact on kittiwakes' route to their breeding site at the Tyne Bridge "do not seem to have been given much consideration and have been dismissed".
Officers wrote: "Whilst the council is keen to work with the applicants to secure development of the Spillers Quay site, this has to be in a sustainable form which complies with development plan policies and fully identifies the impact of the development on the environment and provides appropriate mitigation where required.
"At present there are a number of areas that require further assessment/commentary."
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