A factory is set to be flattened to make way for a new housing estate - but not a single home will be affordable.

Owners of Ramsgate’s Flambeau Europlast recently revealed a scheme to demolish their plastics manufacturing plant before rolling out 118 homes.

But even though Thanet District Council (TDC) usually demands 30% of houses are affordable in large projects, the Manston Road-based firm will not have to provide even one.

Affordable housing provision is seen by the government as vital in ending the housing crisis, tackling homelessness and providing aspiring homeowners opportunities.

Yet controversially, Flambeau successfully argued that including any in its 8.6-acre site would make the scheme financially unviable.

One councillor said it highlights a wider “clash” in that “we want to build on brownfield sites but that costs more so we can’t get affordable housing on it”.

Plans were originally approved to convert the site into a 120-house estate in 2017. However, permission has since expired.

It prompted the firm to reapply earlier this year for outline permission for up to 118 homes.

TDC’s planning committee met on October 16 to make the final call, where planning officers recommended the project should be approved. During the meeting, a planning chief said the current proposals have “a very similar layout” to the 2017 application.

“In terms of the number of units, we do think that can be accommodated on site providing a successful and high-quality design,” he added.

“There is still about £2.2 million that needs to be spent to demolish the site, clear it up and sort out various landscape factors, that all adds onto the costs,” the planning officer explained.

“Unfortunately this is one of the realities of developing brownfield sites.”

Common lizards were previously found on-site, and as such the developers are proposing a new grassland habitat for them on the edge of the estate.

They will also contribute £1.1 million to local services including education and healthcare, with planning documents stressing the firm’s need for a “financially viable transition to new premises”.

In the meeting, council leader Cllr Rick Everitt (Lab) said: “I do accept that based on the figures that have been provided, it’s very difficult for them to provide affordable housing on-site as much as we would like it.

“Also we have to be cognisant of the fact that we have endlessly been told we should develop on brownfield sites. Well, here's a brownfield site and there are challenges that come with that.”

“We should be welcoming building on a brownfield site,” added Cllr Rebecca Wing (Green).

“It looks a great development, I am a bit upset there’s no social housing on there because obviously we have a desperate need for social housing but I understand the reasons why.”

Cllr Mike Garner (Green) added: “Zero affordable housing on the site itself is not a positive thing – it's very negative.

“I think there’s a clash in that we want to build on brownfield sites but that costs more so we can’t get affordable housing on it.”

TDC’s planning committee voted unanimously to approve the plans.

As an outline planning application, they will need to apply again to get permission for the specifics of house design and layout at the new estate.

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Flambeau Europlast has been contacted for comment.