A major housing development proposed for Ascot high street looks set to be blocked by councillors next week.

A decision for plans to build 132 new homes with space for businesses, community use and open space on the fields just to the east of Ascot fire station will be made next week.

But council planning officers say the proposals should be rejected as they don’t include enough affordable housing and have an ‘unnecessary reliance’ on residents having private cars.

Plans to build the new development – known as London Square – are being considered by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. They were submitted to the council by a company called London Square And Ascot Central Car Park Limited.

Developers say a ‘significant proportion’ of the homes will be designated for affordable housing – socially let, rented at less than market rates or sold under shared ownership schemes.

They also say they will ensure the development is ‘well-served by public bus routes’ or ‘other innovative public transport solutions.’

These could include a new bus stop, making the bus  ‘an attractive alternative to the private car for local journeys,’ according to a statement by Solve planning consultants.

But council planning officers say the proposals don’t measure up to the demands of Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s rules.

Council rules say development at that site should include at least 40 per cent affordable housing at a range of sizes. But planning officers say the far too few of those would houses.

Some 49 of the 53 affordable homes would be one, two or three bed flats, while only four of them would be houses.

And planning officers also say the plans fail to provide suitable connections to non-motorised forms of transport – adding to cars on the road.

Planning officers say: “As a result of failing to provide well designed key connections for non-motorised methods of transport, the layout of the development generates an unnecessary reliance upon the private motor vehicle which generates additional use of the proposed access onto Station Hill.

“In the absence of such connections the development would generate an unacceptable impact on highway safety.”

On top of that planners also say some of the new buildings would overlook each other. And they say gardens for the three and four bedroom homes would not be large enough.

Councillors on the Windsor and Ascot development management committee are set to debate and vote on the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday, September 10.