AMBITIOUS plans to build 249 homes on the Gorse Ride Estate in Finchampstead are expected to be approved this month.

Wokingham Borough Council says it wants to replace 178 run-down houses and bungalows on the site with “high quality and modern” homes, during the final phase of the £30 million regeneration of the estate.

According to the council, the prefabricated properties on the estate, that were built in the 1970s, are in a “poor condition” and “it is not economically viable” to repair them.

The Conservative-run council says all of the existing residents have been consulted and everyone who wants to return to live on the site can do so.

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It is planning to build 121 apartments, 107 (two and three storey) houses, 21 bungalows and 398 car parking spaces on the site, which is to the east of Gorse Ride South.

The plans state almost two thirds (185) of the properties will be affordable.

Wokingham Borough Council’s Planning Committee is expected to grant planning permission at a meeting on December 9, after the plans were recommended for approval by council planning officers.

Their report states: “Regeneration of the site is proposed as it is not economically viable to repair or retrofit the existing stock.

“The units are prefabricated and subject to maintenance issues as a result of damp, condensation and high running costs.

“The council’s Executive has resolved to redevelop the site in order to secure new high-quality affordable housing.”

It adds: “The necessary decamping of the existing residents from the site has been carefully considered as part of the process.

“The development would be phased accordingly to ensure that disruption caused through relocation is minimised as far as possible.”

Only five people have written to object to the development.