Affordable homes could be removed from towers plan

A developer is seeking to remove affordable homes from its plans for 206 new properties in two towers in Staines.

Fairview is proposing a £3.85m contribution to the local council to go towards off-site affordable housing, instead of the 70 home that were originally planned.

The Elmsleigh Road scheme was given the green light on appeal in 2022, after Spelthorne Borough Council had refused the application the previous year.

Fairview declined to comment to the BBC.

Spelthorne councillors will make a decision on the removal of the affordable homes at a meeting on Wednesday.

The site, which previously housed a masonic hall and telephone exchange, is currently under construction.

According to meeting documents, the developer had approached numerous registered providers for affordable housing but there was "no interest from any to take the residential units".

There were four separate tender processes and during the most recent, 81 parties were approached, the report said.

But only 21 responses were received, all declining the opportunity, and the remaining parties did not respond, the developer told the council.

Officers said the £3.85m was acceptable, and they recommended councillors to approve the amended planning application.

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