DEVELOPERS hoping to introduce a mixture of high quality and affordable housing have submitted their designs to the council.

Thames Properties is planning to build 96 new homes at a 'redundant' industrial site on Cardiff Road where the Cox and Wyman printworks factory once stood.

As well as hosting a public exhibition event in July, developers sent the consultation details to 615 households in the surrounding area to gauge opinions.

The site has been empty for more than two years and around 80 per cent of households showed support for the plans, while less than seven per cent said they were against the development.

Charles Merry, of Thames Properties, said: "The scheme would deliver a significant improvement by separating commercial and residential traffic on surrounding roads.

"This would be achieved through the reorganisation of existing road closures around the site, helping to prevent commercial vehicles using nearby residential roads and improve the flow of traffic.

“We would like to thank all the residents who came along to our exhibition and provided feedback.

“In response to feedback, our team has amended the plans to include some decorative finials, which currently sit on the existing building.

“The scheme has been carefully designed to ensure that sufficient parking is provided within the site for future residents, which will help to prevent on-street parking in surrounding residential areas or any impact on local roads."

Residents were given the opportunity to look at the designs for 48 apartments, 38 terraced houses and 10 urban town houses on the Cardiff Road site in July.

The proposals include 131 parking spaces, a play area and 30 per cent of the houses built must be affordable.

Kim Cohen, partner at Barton Willmore, said: “The public consultation highlighted the need for the redevelopment of this redundant industrial site.

"The former Cox and Wyman factory will provide high quality market and affordable housing, to meet local needs that have been carefully designed to reflect the character of nearby Victorian houses.”