IT’S that time of the week again where we reveal the most interesting planning applications determined by or submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Slough Borough Council.
Today’s edition includes quite a refusal by planning officers over major concerns the proposals would cause to their respective areas.
Some of the applications could be amended and re-submitted at a later stage.
A three-storey extension to create 11 flats at Salisbury House, 300-310 High Street, Slough (P/08145/007).
An application was submitted for a three-storey extension – which will connect to existing upper floors – for a further 11 apartments and converting three of the existing units, compromising of studios, one, and two-bedroom flats.
The plans also sought to change the vacant downstairs pub – known as the Pied Horse Pub – into retail as well as offices.
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The site has cycle storage for future occupiers, bin store, and nearby car parking.
The applicant said as the flats are located in the town centre, nearby shops and as well public transport should cover the lack of onsite car parking.
Slough Borough Council planning officers refused the application on the grounds the three-storey extension would result in a loss of privacy and overbearing to neighbouring flats at Skyline Apartments building and properties
Demolishing a bungalow for an apartment block at Wilbury Cottage, Beech Hill Road, Ascot (20/02434/FULL).
An application for 2.5-storey apartment building providing six one-bedroom and one two-bedroom flats was refused by planning officers at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
The developers originally wanted to demolish a part two-storey part bungalow to make way for the proposed flats.
The site would’ve provided eight car parking spaces, bin store, and cycle storage where the developer said they will make best use of the land as the existing building is in a ‘poor state of repair’.
However, an avalanche of objections were made by concerned residents and the parish council stating the proposal’s scale and density is out of keeping with the Victorian street scene, increase of traffic congestion and on-street parking, and its impact on nearby trees with a protection order.
One resident said: “The plans of the proposed new development are not clear but appears to be rather unattractive, basic budget looking build, with no attempts to blend with the general architecture of the road.”
Planning officers agreed with the objections made and refused it on the grounds of it being out of keeping with the Victorian village, its ‘detrimental’ impact on nearby protected trees, and criticised the access to the site for not being wide enough to provide two-way traffic and ‘inadequate’ turning space.
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Adding five additional flats on top of the consented nine flats at 253-257 Farnham Road, Slough (P/00226/044).
The developers were previously granted permission to convert a vacant nursery into residential with the erection of an additional floor to create nine more flats.
Now they want to sneak another five apartments into the scheme, resulting in 14 flats overall with a mix of studio, one, and two-bedrooms.
The plans include 23 car parking spaces, with some being disabled and providing electric charging points, and approximately 26 cycle storage spaces.
Planning officers at Slough Borough Council decided to refuse the application on the grounds that its ‘excessive height’ will harm the character and appearance of the homes on Farnham Road as well as the adjacent Furnival Avenue.
They also said the development will overlook nearby properties, making the proposed building ‘visually intrusive’.
Transforming the Colne Clinic to a house in multiple occupations (HMO) at 45 Station Road, Wraysbury, Staines (20/00712/FULL).
The NHS decided to shut down the medical facility and move the doctors to another site where it remained vacant since last December.
Developers sought to change the internal layout into an HMO, accommodating nine bedrooms with a shared kitchen.
A private garden is proposed and as the existing 21 car parking spaces will be retained for future occupiers and visitors.
No external works were proposed.
Planning officers at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead refused this application primarily due to the site sitting at a ‘very high risk’ flooding zone where the applicant hasn’t provided any adequate mitigation measures to combat this nor an evacuation plan in the event of a flood.
Demolishing an existing office block for a ‘Grade A’ office building St Cloud Gate, St Cloud Way, Maidenhead (20/01463/FULL).
Following previous refusal, developers went back to the drawing board to ‘significantly’ reduce it by three-storeys and set the building further back from Cookham Road to address its harmful impact on the nearby medical centre, the Wilderness – which is a Grade II listed building.
READ MORE: 'Grade A' Maidenhead office block given the go ahead by councillors
The vacant office building will be demolished for ‘Grade A’ office block – which is the highest quality of office space a business can have – where the plans incorporate a café and communal roof space.
Developers say this scheme will contribute to Maidenhead’s economy as it will create approximately 350 jobs.
Councillors approved the scheme on November 18 (Wednesday) at a Royal Borough Development Management Panel.
The plans are now subject to discussions with the council’s legal team and the developers to secure travel plans and a car park management plan.
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