Slough plans for 'dominating' house on grass verge refused

A home built at 1 Patricia Close in Slough was built on land 'that had historically been intended for public open space'.

On November 11 2025, a proposal was registered for a retrospective change of use of grass verge to residential and the construction of a one-bedroom attached dwelling house with associated bin stores and cycle stores.

The council refused this on January 19 2026.

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A planning officer described the house as 'a dominating and overpowering addition to the streetscene which would detract from the character and appearance'.

Their report on the proposal stated: "The development fails to provide car parking in accordance with adopted Slough Borough Council standards for the proposed residential use.

"If permitted, then the proposals would lead to additional on-street car parking close to the junction of the fairly heavily trafficked Langley Road.

"This could result in the obstruction of the access, visibility splays, cause pavement parking or obstruct access by emergency vehicles which would be detrimental to safety for users of the highway including pedestrians."

They added that the proposal results in 'overdevelopment' and that its 'significant adverse impacts' would 'significantly and demonstrably outweigh the modest benefits of providing a one bedroom dwelling in this location'.

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The proposal had said: "The site is a residential house, which is an end of terrace within the Patricia close, with a front and rear garden, the client had bought a piece of land to the side, which was a grass verge, which is to be changed to a residential curtilage, which has planning permission approved for the change of use, and a single storey side extension approved."

It describes the building as a one-bedroom house, with a study room, a bathroom on the first floor, a ground-floor living room, a small toilet under stairs, and a kitchen overlooking the private rear garden.

It added that it had been built sustainably as an 'eco home' with the use of solar panels on the rear tiled roof.

The proposal said: "Solar panels offer a wide range of environmental, economic, and practical benefits."

It added: "The development will help with Slough Council's need for more housing."

In their conclusion, the planning officer stated: "It is the view of the Local Planning Authority that the proposed development does not improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area for the reasons given in this notice and it is not in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework."

Correction: The retrospective part of this application is for the verge being used as a garden, the proposed house, has not yet been built (January 30).