A DEVELOPER planning to build 30 new homes on the site of a former Basingstoke eyesore, has applied to provide affordable housing as part of the scheme on a different town centre site.

The JTS Partnership, acting on behalf of Bewley Homes, has applied to Basing-stoke and Deane Borough Council for permission to provide six affordable homes which formed part of an approved planning permission at the site of Brook House, in Alencon Link, in 2009, at an off-site location.

As part of the original application, the developer agreed to build three two-bedroom units, two one-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom house at the site.

But following discussions between Bewley Homes and Sentinel Housing Association, the developer has agreed to make a financial contribution of £180,000 to be used by the housing association to provide affordable units at another site.

The application says: “The applicant has not undertaken a full viability assessment since the 2009 permission but, in terms of changes in market conditions, negotiations on an off-site housing contribution have been necessary as Bewley Homes have been unable to enter into any deal with other registered social landlords for on-site provision where there has been little or no interest in the six units available.”