PLANS to build 14 luxury apartments at the site of DJ Chris Evans’ run-down mansion have suffered a setback.

This comes after Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council (SAPC) objected to the proposals on a number of grounds.

Last week the News reported the proposal would involve knocking down the derelict eight-bedroom house which currently occupies the site on Church Lane, Sunninghill.

Eight of the 14 apartments would be three-bedroom homes and the other six would be two-bedroom dwellings, all of which are expected to fetch millions of pounds on the market.

According to architects Ascot Design, the location of the site is within the green belt, meaning it is outside a boundary designated for residential developments.

But the plans have hit a stumbling block after SAPC councillors determined the apartments to be an “inappropriate development in the green belt”.

Members of SAPC’s planning committee also said the buildings would be “out of character with the surrounding properties”, and feared the height of the properties would reduce the openness of the green belt.

The lack of any affordable housing included in the plans was highlighted too and it was claimed the housing mix in the borough is becoming skewed by the increased building of more apartments.

A report produced by SAPC read: “The committee felt that this application didn’t take into account the existing buildings along the wall. It is argued that these don’t have a significant impact on the openness of the green belt.

“By proposing to demolish these buildings and increase the consented replacement by a similar floor area will, in the committee’s judgement, increase the impact on the openness of the green belt.

“This impact is increased by the form and height of the apartments when viewed from the west.”

Sunninghill and Ascot Parish Council recommended objections to the proposal, but a final decision will be made by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM).

Two objections from neighbours have also been received, including one from Adrian Newey, chief technical officer of Red Bull Racing F1 team.

In his letter, Mr Newey wrote about his concerns on the impact of the development on the local community, traffic, infrastructure, noise and accessibility to the site.

The plans are currently pending consideration.