More than 200 new homes are set to be built in Maidenhead after a major development received council approval this week.

Members of the Maidenhead Development Management Committee voted to grant planning permission for the project on land south of Harvest Hill Road.

The land had been earmarked for development as part of the Borough Local Plan (BLP).

It will see 215 homes built in total as well as associated access, landscaping and parking. Of these homes, 30 per cent are set to be affordable housing units.

The residential development would feature 140 houses and 75 apartments – with the flats spread across seven different blocks.

Councillors considered deferring a decision on the application pending further information surrounding the proposals.

Conservative group leader councillor Maureen Hunt said: “I think this is premature. There are some things that still need to be looked at very carefully.”

However, a motion to defer was defeated by councillors, with the committee subsequently voting to approve planning permission.

Councillor Joshua Reynolds said: “I’m disappointed that this is an application we have to consider because I didn’t want this site to be taken out of Green Belt in the first place and included in the BLP.

“From my perspective, we are at a place where we’ve got to make a decision, and I think the decision we have to make on this is a positive determination.”

Of the affordable housing units, 45 per cent are for social rent, 35 per cent for affordable rent and 20 per cent for shared ownership. A combination of houses and flats will be available for social rent.

The plans include 387 parking spaces, with separate courtyards set to hold parking spaces for the apartment blocks.

The officers’ report considered by councillors reads: “The proposal includes substantial benefits in terms of the provision of housing on an allocated site, along with 65 affordable housing units in line with the requirements of BLP Allocation AL13, would provide the necessary funding to support the delivery of infrastructure in accordance with the South West Maidenhead SPD, funding towards the Borough’s carbon off-setting fund, and would deliver significant biodiversity net gain on site.

“The proposal provides a suitable level of accommodation for future with provision of on-site open space that exceeds BLP requirements in a legible layout that accords with the design principles set out in the South West Maidenhead SPD.”