‘1970s block’ plans flatly turned down
A ‘horrendous’ application for 43 flats described as looking like a ‘1970s block’ and a ‘cruise ship’ was roundly lambasted and flatly turned down last week.
Members of the Maidenhead development management committee expressed their collective dismay over plans for the six-storey building, planned for the car park at the end of Stafferton Way.
It would also have included 15 parking spaces and 82 cycle parking spaces, and would have been based next to the Stafferton Link, close to Absolutely Karting.
In its statement, applicant N And R Investments Ltd said the site 'lies within the builtup area' and 'would comprise sustainable development.'
But officers disagreed there would be no adverse harm to the character in the area, or detriment to residential amenity, as claimed.
They also disagreed there was an ‘acceptable unit mix’, no ecological concerns and no flooding issues – or that it is 'a well-designed scheme.
Officers firmly recommended the plans for refusal, saying the submission fails to comply with several policies:
W It had an ‘inappropriate’ dwelling mix (an over-provision of one-bed flats)
W A lack of communal amenity space
W Insufficient detail on surface water drainage
W Harm to the visual amenity of the street scene on both sides of the river
W The proposals would dominate the street scene and river landscape
W It could result in an unacceptable level of harm to highway safety
W There was 'insufficient' detail regarding affordable housing
W The building is within the 8m buffer zone of a main river
W There is lack of detail of the effects on air quality
W Harm to the ecology of
The Cut, a priority habitat
W No biodiversity net gain
W Harm on the adjacent trees.
The proximity to the river also brought in an objection from the Environment Agency – and there were 21 letters of objection logged from members of the public.
Councillor Josh Reynolds (Lib Dem, Furze Platt), chair of the meeting, said: “This is probably the worst application I’ve seen on my four-and-a-half years on the planning panel.
“Looking at [the plans], it looks like they dumped a sixstorey block of flats on a bit of land in the middle of nowhere.
“I'm annoyed we even have to consider this tonight (Wednesday, December 20) because it’s so ridiculous and it’s a waste of time and money us having to do it.
“The car parking situation just looks dangerous. God knows how anyone thinks they’re going to get a car in and out of there safely.”
Cllr Helen Taylor (tBFI, Oldfield) agreed, stressing concerns that the building would be close to a wildlife haven, opposite allotments and on a safe route to school – all of which would be compromised.
She also had concerns about the safety of having the vehicle access so close to a road where there have been problems at the roundabout.
“It’s horrendous,” she said.
“[There's] a massive list as long as my arm of reasons why [the application] is not up to standard.”
She added that the flat designed looked like ‘a cruise ship’ – one of a few strong criticisms for its appearance.
Cllr Gary Reeves (Lib Dem, Cox Green) said: “The look of it and the street scene impact is huge. It looks like we've gone back to the 1970s and we're trying to build council flats.”
He added that he could not think of any planning point that hadn’t been raised by officers as grounds for rejection.
Cllr Reeves also felt this scheme would have a ‘huge impact’ on school pupil safety.
After a short discussion, councillors turned down the proposals flat with a unanimous vote to refuse.