Slough planning round-up: 18 new flats in Farnham Road rejected

Here are the latest most significant planning applications in Slough. See all documents by entering the reference numbers into Slough's planning portal.

Rejected: A three-storey extension and semi-basement providing 18 new flats in Farnham Road has been turned down by Slough council.

The outline application, by A.A. & Sons Limited, was for three two-bed flats and 15 one-beds based at 235 Farnham Road.

There was previously a larger application for the same site which did not come to fruition.

The previous one was for the entire site, including all of the front building. By contrast, this was for a rear extension only.

Also, it was for 32 flats, while this application is for 18 – and all studio flats have been deleted from this revised scheme.

Storey heights are reduced and the building will be over a semi-basement so the overall height is reduced.

A semi-basement is a floor of a building that is partially below ground level but still has some exposure to natural light and ventilation.

However, despite these revisions, Slough council refused the plans.

Officers wrote: “The proposal is considered to be overdevelopment of the site.

“This predominantly residential-led development would require an enlargement of the existing building resulting in a bulky, overbearing form of development, and not in keeping with character of the local area.

“It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the development proposed would not have a harmful impact on the character and appearance of the area.”

They added: "It is considered that there would be a harmful impact on living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, increased sense of enclosure and poor visual outlook as a result of the scale of the proposals.”

P/00378/033

Pending: A plan is in for a four-storey extension to provide three more flats at The Curve building in Chalvey Road West.

Not to be confused with Slough's theatre and entertainment space in William Street, this building in Chalvey contains three commercial units and 17 flats.

The application follows seeks outline permission for a four-storey extension.

At the first-floor level, the building would contain one two-bedroom flat, and another at the second floor level. On the third floor would be a one-bedroom unit.

The ground floor would be completely open to maintain the existing parking and three off-street parking spaces with electric vehicle chargers will be provided within the lower ground.

Moreover, the ‘harsh’ orange/red brick wall would be replaced by railings and a hedge row.

The benefits of this are twofold; ‘significantly enhancing’ the visual appearance of Chalvey Road, it would also create an area of ‘defensible space’ for the future occupants of the ground floor units.

These are areas designed to make residents feel a sense of ownership and control over their surroundings, helping to deter crime and improve safety.

Planning agent Unlimited Assets LTD, representing the applicants, wrote:

“Overall the proposal represents a sensitive addition to an area of the Chalvey Road street scene where the host development, together with its excessive parking, turning area and insensitive boundary treatment have a negative visual impact on its visual amenity and does little to reduce the fear of crime.”

P/01201/012