DEVELOPER’S plans to build 61 flats in Slough town centre made “mockery” of the council’s affordable housing policy, a meeting heard.
Members of the planning committee blocked plans for developers to demolish the Automotive Place office building on Grays Place and be redeveloped into a new apartment block of up to 10-storeys.
Sixty-one flats were proposed, compromising of 28 one-bed, 29 two-bed, and four three-bedrooms. No affordable housing was provided.
The proposal also came with basement parking, providing 12 car parking spaces and 66 cycle spaces.
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Officers recommended to the committee, which convened on April 14, to refuse this application due to “insufficient parking spaces” and the building’s height, bulk, and mass clash with the street’s character as well as being overbearing and blocking natural light to neighbours.
While not a reason for refusal, councillor Pavitar K. Mann (Lab: Britwell and Northborough), lead member for planning, criticised the scheme’s zero provision of affordable housing, saying it “mocks” the council’s policy for developments to provide at least 30 per cent affordable homes on or off site.
CGI of now blocked 61 flats scheme
She said: “We’ve had so many town centre applications which provide some affordable housing but not policy compliant affordable housing.
“To have this scheme come forward with absolutely zero contribution, whether that be on site or off site, it’s frankly making a mockery of not only our policies but our priorities as members.
“I understand the viability argument, but the viability is inevitably going to be impacted by the nonsensical idea of providing a basement for merely 12 parking spaces.”
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Tim Waller, the agent, argued the level of parking is acceptable due to the site’s close proximity to not only public transport links but also the town centre itself.
Mr Waller claimed highway officers agreed the level of parking was acceptable during the pre-application stage and could even provide no parking.
Highway officers denied they agreed with the applicant that they agreed with the amount of parking.
This didn’t convince councillors and unanimously went with the officer’s recommendations to block the plans.
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