Controversial plans to build hundreds of new homes have been slammed by the leader of Renfrewshire Council.

Bellway Homes Ltd has lodged a bid to erect 142 houses and 106 flats on land to the east of Clyde View Park, in King’s Inch Road, Renfrew, which has attracted 170 objections.

Planning chiefs recommended approval of the development, stating it would provide a range of house sizes and types.

But, during a remote meeting of the planning board, Councillor Iain Nicolson argued the local authority should not be accepting large applications which do not commit to providing any affordable housing.

The SNP man garnered support from colleagues and the council will now go back to Bellway to ask if it will consider changing its plans so that some affordable homes are included.

Councillor Nicolson said: “It’s clear the applicant has decided they don’t need to provide affordable housing and our officers appear to agree with that.

“Why would we accept an application of this scale and size when our policy is to have affordable housing as part of any development over a particular scale and size?

“I think it’s an expectation the developer would provide an element of affordable housing and not excuse themselves out of it because other developers have contributed.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable for them to try to say they are meeting policy by having a mixed tenure and help-to-buy housing.”

Bellway intends to erect terraced, semi-detached and detached properties, alongside townhouses. The plans also include flats, with a maximum height of four storeys, to the north and south of the site.

Despite this, Councillor Nicolson claimed the bid goes against a policy in the Proposed Renfrewshire Local Development Plan which seeks to make sure that, on residential sites, “a mix of housing types are encouraged to meet current and future housing needs.”

Planning officer Sharon Marklow said there had already been a lot of investment in affordable housing in Renfrew as a whole and this development would add to the variety on offer.

She added: “There’s been a substantial amount of investment in and around the Renfrew area in relation to affordable homes and so this last piece of the jigsaw on the Renfrew riverside allows us to have that range and mix within the entire area.”

The plans will go before the board again at a future meeting for a final decision once council officers have discussed them further with Bellway.