A property developer has accused a council of being “out of touch” after refusing plans for housing – and said they could submit an application for a travellers’ site instead.

A billboard mocking Chiltern District Council’s planning policy has been put up by development company Inland Homes outside the former Pheasant pub in Amersham, after two attempts to turn the property into housing were rebuffed.

And Inland Homes, which has its headquarters in Amersham, initially told neighbouring residents proposals for a travellers’ site could now be submitted to the council.

Those proposals have been put on the back burner however after new discussions opened between developer and council.

Stephen Wicks, chief executive of Wicks, told the Bucks Free Press: “We will not be making an application for a travellers site for the moment. We have had a lot of support in the last few days from local people who are happy in principle to see homes on this site now.

“We have also had contact from Chiltern who are interested in opening a fresh discussion to try and break this unfortunate deadlock.” The billboard, which was put up on Wednesday, has the words “This could have been your view!” written directly above architects’ plans of the new homes.

It also read: “Inland wanted to build much needed new homes on this site. Chiltern have been criticised by a government inspector for failing to have adequate land available for development.

“This site is a sad indictment of a council that is out of touch with reality. Sorry, we really did want to build here.”

Proposals to demolish part of the derelict pub, in Plantation Road, to make way for ten houses and four flats were turned down in 2013, with council planning chiefs raising concerns at overdevelopment and the loss of the pub as a community facility.

Inland Homes subsequently failed with an appeal before making a fresh application for nine homes last year. That was also turned down, with Chiltern District Council finding eight reasons for refusal, and was also subject to a failed appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Chiltern District Council spokesman Rachel Prance said: “At the present time there has been no breach of planning control, but we are monitoring the site and if any breach does occur we will take appropriate action.”

The Pheasant, which is a Listed building, ceased trading as a pub in December 2012.