Developers of a controversial housing project between Ascot and Bracknell have asked for permission not to provide any affordable homes as part of the development.

It comes after a government planning inspector overturned a council decision to block the development altogether – citing new affordable homes as a benefit of allowing it to go ahead.

Nicholas King Homes won permission to build 20 homes at the junction of Swinley Road and London Road last year. The developer said five of these would be provided as affordable housing. This can mean they’re marketed at discount rates or rent as social housing.

But now it says no registered affordable housing providers are interested in buying the homes – so should be sold as private homes at full market rates instead.

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Land manager Ed Smith told Bracknell Forest Council: “Nicholas King Homes have sought offers from Affordable Housing Providers including all providers contained within Bracknell Forest Council’s ‘approved’ list.

“All of the providers either state that the number of affordable units (5) is too few for them or that they are not currently seeking to acquire S.106 Affordable Housing for a variety of reasons.”

It added: “Given no offers for the consented Affordable Units are forthcoming, we propose that these units [numbers] 16-20 are delivered as private dwellings.”

The developer added that it would pay a contribution to the council for affordable housing elsewhere, and that it had discussed this with the council’s housing department.

It said: “This application is necessary to ensure the timely delivery of the site and is submitted in the context of no affordable housing offers being forthcoming.

“Having suitably demonstrated the absence of affordable housing offers, an in-lieu contribution is considered to be acceptable.”

Bracknell Forest Council originally refused permission to build the new housing estate in March 2023. Planning officers ruled that the development – which would replace the Westwood House mansion.

They said the development would have a ‘harmful urbanising effect upon Swinley Road to the detriment of the area.'

But a government planning inspector overturned their decision after an appeal hearing in October last year. The inspector M Russel said the harm to the area would be outweighed by the benefits of new housing – including new affordable homes.

Mr Russel said: “There would be public benefits both in social and economic terms.” He added: “The provision of affordable housing and future use of local services facilities by occupiers of the development would also make positive contributions.”

He said other benefits would include employment in the construction of the site and contributions from the developers to community services and infrastructure.

Council planning officers are still considering the application to remove the commitment to affordable housing.