A developer has been criticised for re-designating houses already under construction as affordable homes under a deal to redevelop Abingdon's Old Gaol.

Cranbourne Homes was given permission to build 14 houses on the site of Abingdon's old ambulance station in Springfield Drive, last June.

The houses were destined to be sold on the open market. But now the company is designating 10 of them as affordable homes as part of its commitment under the Old Gaol development deal, struck in January with Vale of White Horse District Council.

Under the Old Gaol plans - for 61 homes along with a mixture of shops and restaurants - 14 more affordable homes will be built in Harcourt Way to meet the required amount. But Joyce Battersby, of St Mary's Green, said: "I think it was very wrong of the council to have given Cranbourne Homes the contract on the premise that they will build affordable homes in Harcourt Way and on the former ambulance station site.

"It is surely mis-representation to state this was a deciding factor in granting them the contract when, in fact, the affordable homes on the ambulance station site are well on their way to completion.

"The council states that Cranbourne's scheme had the most to offer, in part, because of this provision of affordable houses.

"But how can this be so when half of these are nearly built?"

The 66-year-old criticised the plans for not including leisure facilities, which she said were desperately needed in the town.

Michael Howells, 42, from Ock Street, said: "It's ridiculous to say that this housing is part of a new offer when they are already building the affordable houses."

However Shaun Dominic, who owns the company with his father, said: "We got planning permission to demolish the former ambulance station and build 14 houses which we would have sold on the open market. But because we won the Old Gaol bid then we agreed that 10 would be affordable housing.

"There is nothing hidden about it.

"Had we not got the Old Gaol we would have put them on the open market."

Nikki Malin, a spokesman for the district council, said: "The ambulance station site was bought by Cranbourne with the intention of developing houses, which were going to be sold on the open market.

"Under local legislation, with any development of 15 or more homes, developers are required to provide 40 per cent of homes as affordable housing.

"Cranbourne has agreed with us that 10 of the houses will be affordable.

"As far as we are concerned, this is good news.

"It means there are going to be 10 affordable homes which would have been on the open market."

Glynne Butt, Chairman of Action group Community in the Old Gaol, said: "We are still pressing for cultural facilities, if not in the Old Gaol then somewhere else."

The council says money from the sale of the Old Gaol will be invested for three years. It will then look at what community facilities are needed.