Councillor expresses concern at lack of affordable housing as Bray Studios development is approved

It's a wrap for Bray Studios with the Royal Borough approving a developer's application to turn the home of Hammer Horror into 25 homes.

Farmglade's application to convert and extend grade-II listed Down Place House in Water Oakley to create 10 apartments, demolish its outbuildings and replace them with a further 15 homes was given the go-ahead by Maidenhead's development control panel last night.

Planning officers had recommended the scheme for approval, saying that it reduces the total footprint of buildings on the site from 6,368 sq m to 3,568 sq m.

Farmglade has agreed to stump up for a right turn lane on the A308 Windsor Road and pledge £200,000 to secondary school expansion.

The same developer is building 44 homes in neighbouring Water Oakley.

Farmglade representative Chris Brett told the panel the scheme will increase the amount of open spaces in the area, renovate Down Place House and contribute to the borough's housing need

Cllr Philip Love (Con Belmont) praised the scheme for reducing the volume of buildings on site, but expressed a concern that the scheme was not deemed financially viable if it included a provision to provide affordable housing, which led to an affordable housing requirement being omitted.

He said: "This is another application that's proved not viable with affordable houses. What concerns me is, if this goes on, where are we going to supply the affordable houses?"

The borough's cabinet member for finance, Cllr Simon Dudley (Con, Riverside) replied; "The Royal Borough will make every effort to ensure that those residents who can get on the property ladder."