A 175-home chunk of a major housing development in Warfield has been held off after Bracknell Forest councillors raised concerns about a large block of flats.

The group of 175 houses and flats would be built by Taylor Wimpey as part of a 305-home housing project that was granted planning permission in 2021.

Members of the council’s planning committee were asked to approve more detailed plans outlining the scale, layout, appearance and landscaping of the buildings on a parcel of land within the project. This is land between Maize Lane and Old Priory Lane.

But councillors said they wanted changes to the design of a three-storey block of flats on Maize Lane at the Whitegrove roundabout. The flats are intended to act as a “landmark building” – a focal point of the new estate.

One resident – Christine Martin of Mary Mead – also wrote in to complain that the flats would overlook her back garden.

She said the plans “will give these residents perfect views of may back garden and me losing my privacy.” She added: “Nor does it fit in with the current surroundings and the types of existing houses in this area.”

“It will be an eyesore and totally unnecessary to have such high properties. Put in houses which fit in already with Warfield!”

Councillor Sheila Collings asked if the design could be amended to stop trees on the site from being removed.

Councillor Gareth Barnard wanted committee members to vote on whether the council should ask developers if they could change their designs to the flats.

“A huge amount has been said about the importance of Maize Lane,” he said. He added: “The reason for deferral is to have further discussions with the developer around the location and the aspect and view” of the block of flats.

READ MORE: Warfield: 305 homes plan approved by council chiefs

He accepted “the key principle that that should be a landmark building but reflecting the concerns that residents have on the impact it has on the Whitegrove roundabout.”

He clarified that – as the council had already granted the plans for a three story block of flats outline planning permission – he only wanted changes to the design.

Councillor Barnard said: “I would like further discussion and consideration with the applicant on how that can be better integrated with the roundabout in terms of the landscaping treatment.

Councillors voted to defer approval – meaning they will have to discuss it again once developers provide further information.