It’s that time of the week again where we reveal the five most interesting planning applications determined by or submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead as well as Slough Borough Council.
This week’s edition includes a possible swan rehabilitation centre at an artificial lake, an extension of building on a historic street, and the demolition of a garage to make room for a three-bedroom house.
Construction of a swan rehabilitation and care centre at land north of Bray Watersports, Monkey Island Lane, Bray, Maidenhead (20/01777/FULL)
A planning application has been submitted for a centre to be built to shelter and care for sick and injured rescued swans prior to their release back to the wild.
The applicants said access to water is a vital component of swan rehabilitation and welfare where the existing artificial lake will make an ideal location for swan activities.
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Healthy swans already use the lake and is surrounded by a variety of trees, vegetation, and wildlife.
The proposed single storey building would be a rectangular, barn-like structure with a pitched roof and decking with swan care facilities such as pens, treatment areas, oil spill clean-up, and intensive care.
As it will be set in a green belt site, the applicant said the sanctuary will not visually or environmentally damage the setting – but will instead protect and enhance the landscape.
If approved, the site will be used by Swan Support, a charity – which has run for 25 years – to protect, rescue, treat, and rehabilitate sick or injured swans in the Thames Valley and surrounding areas.
Construction of five new houses at 10 The Grove, Slough (P/03138/013)
An application has been submitted to the council for one three-bedroom house and four two-bedroom mews houses on a site which borders Slough town centre.
The Grove has a mixture of residential units and detached office buildings dating back to the 1980s/1990s – where the site was originally predominantly used for commercial but has since converted to mainly residential over the last decade.
Currently, a three-storey office building with parking sits at the development area and the applicant seeks to develop the rear of the site in line with neighbouring properties and development.
The office is not listed nor is in a conservation area.
The designs show the two-storey dwellings will mimic and mirror – mainly the neighbouring 8 The Grove homes – the developments established in the area such as a copper roof and blue brick ground floor.
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A four-storey and part three-storey extension to create a one bedroom flat, studio flat and two-bedroom townhouse at 81 Peascod Street, Windsor (20/01693/FULL).
The proposed application – awaiting decision – could see the second and third floor of an existing commercial unit – Cancer Research UK – developed, but it will continue to operate.
The one bedroom flat will be located above the commercial unit, while a second and third floor will be added to the rear section to accommodate the studio flat and townhouse, all accessed via Charles Street.
A single car parking spot is at the rear of the site – but is used by the shop operator only.
Peascod Street is located in Windsor town centre and dates back to 1308, while the double frontage shop dates back to 1842.
This means the development sits within a conservation area and the front section is listed Grade II.
In the design and access statement, the applicant said: “We believe we have developed a proposal which enhances the streetscape making a positive contribution to the Windsor Town Centre Conservation Area whilst addressing the recognised need for more one and two bedroom housing and enhancing the viability of commercial space.”
Construction of one, three-storey house at Rodney Way, Colnbrook, Slough (P/19023/000).
Plans for a single-family home were submitted to Slough Borough Council with the applicants saying they want to “make better use of the redundant land adjacent to the existing properties”.
This ‘affordable’ family home will also include a garden, bike storage, bin storage and two parking spaces.
It is not considered the proposal would affect the character of the street as the designs aim to match the already established terraced houses.
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A tree will have to be removed – but the council said it is not protected or in a conservation area.
The applicant said they will replace some of the green space with dense 1m high hedges on the corner of the site.
Construction of a three-bedroom house at land adjacent to seven Beaumont Road, Windsor (19/03211/FULL).
Planning was given the go ahead by the council for the applicants to demolish an existing garage to erect a detached three-bedroom home.
The house will be built on a plot of land located between numbers seven and nine Beaumont Road where the street scene differs from Victorian/Edwardian style homes, displaying some ‘architectural and stylistic uniformity’.
However, the applicant says the home will ‘enhance’ the character and appearance of the area and will make a ‘positive’ contribution to the heritage asset.
Only on-street parking, much like the rest of the street, will be provided.
A concerned resident objected to the plans on the ground it will add to the on-street parking congestion problem the street faces.
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He said: “The house adjacent, no.7, also has a dropped kerb. We request that the distance between them is large enough to accommodate a 5 metre long street parking space.
“Otherwise, the street will lose the width of the two dropped kerbs and the distance between them in one go.”
He also requested a tree protection order for a mature Magnolia tree which could be damaged when the works begin, he said.
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