DEVELOPERS could soon be told they cannot build houses for sale in Bolton unless they agree to housing association properties on the same estate.

Builders might not get planning permission for private estates unless they hand over part of their land so housing associations can build homes for sale or rent.

Housing chiefs believe the controversial move is the only way to ensure enough affordable homes are built in the borough over the coming years.

In theory it could lead to identical, neighbouring houses selling for different prices depending on whether it is a housing association or private sale.

The new planning rules will target new estates of over forty houses and already officials are earmarking suitable sites in Bolton.

Registers of housing needs are also being drawn up so Bolton council can tell developers exactly the type and number of "affordable" housing which might help them win planning permission for each site. Builders who strongly object, such as those building luxury developments, might be able to escape their obligations by paying the council cash to build their quota of affordable houses elsewhere.

Some developers may argue that their own low cost starter homes are affordable houses.

The new planning guidelines are the brainchild of the Department of the Environment who believe current policies create ghettoes of private and public housing.

But director George Caswell told the housing committee: "I doubt if we will see affordable houses next door to owner occupiers. In reality we will get social housing on different parts of the sites. However if some social or cultural divide emerges then we will have failed because we are aiming at integration."

To date most of the councils adopting the planning guidelines are in the South of the country. Bolton say they have been forced to look for new solutions because the council are running out of sites for their pioneering Bolton Community Homes land for houses scheme.

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