Planning round-up: 27 flats planned for central Windsor

Here are the latest most significant planning applications in Windsor. To see all documents, enter the reference numbers into RBWM's online planning portal.

Pending:  Plans are in to convert an office building at 2-6 Frances Road into 27 flats – after a previous failed attempt to do so.

Felstead House is a three-storey brick office building just south of Windsor Town Centre and adjacent to the Victoria Barracks. It has been home to Intersystems software company.

It is within the Inner Windsor Conservation Area and near to the Windsor Town Centre Conservation Area.

The scheme seeks the conversion of the building into 26 one-bed flats for one person, and just the one two-bed flat. Each unit will be greater than the 37sqm in size.

A total of 29 parking spaces will be made available, within the existing parking area on the second floor.

The application follows an earlier one of the same type (prior approval) that was refused. The planning pathway exists to smooth the way for certain developments – such as converting existing office buildings into flats to create more housing.

Developers using this pathway have to meet a checklist of nationally set requirements, and it is up to the local planning authority, in this case RBWM, to determine if it has done so correctly.

The previous application was refused on two grounds; the size of the waste and recycling store and a design guide which identifies kitchens as habitable rooms

The applicant ‘respectfully suggests’ these reasons were not correct and has submitted detailed explanations it hopes will evidence this and allow for approval the second time around.

25/00512/CLAMA

Pending: Windsor and Maidenhead council is applying to turn a house in St Lukes Road, Old Windsor, into a children's home.

The application is by RBWM Property Company Ltd, which handles the Royal Borough's property portfolio. Other sources mention Achieving for Children, which runs the Borough's children's services.

Nonetheless, just like any application submitted by a private developer, plans must be scrutinised by RBWM's planning team.

There are not many documents and not much information regarding the scheme in RBWM’s planning portal.

Floor plans depict minimal changes on the ground-floor of the existing six-bedroom house, with the lounge, kitchen/diner, hallway, study and utility areas staying where they are.

Most of the changes are on the first floor of the two-storey building, where all the bedrooms bar one are located - though the only major change is a split of the sixth bedroom into two ensuites.

The site’s planning history stretches back to 1999 with a series of extensions up until 2020.

The home, if approved, will retain the two parking spaces already there.

25/00344/FULL

Approved: RBWM has given permission for a small independent school for special needs students to expand.

The school in Albert Street is part of The Green Room Foundation, a registered charity.

It runs the independent school The Green Room Windsor (GRW) providing alternative education and therapeutic support to students with SEND/social/ emotional needs.

GRW is located on Albert Street and helps pupils gain GCSE’s and other qualifications.

GRW began its operations at 4 Albert Street in 2011 as a small project that catered for young people who had been out of school for an extended period of time.

Over the last 13 years it remained here an expanded into 4a Albert Street (a former commercial property) where it caters for 24 pupils at any one time, between the ages of 13 and 16.

It has seven full-time and eight part-time staff members and operates for 182 days of the year.

The property in this application immediately adjoins the existing school and is sandwiched between it and the Vansittart Arms Public House.

Expanding its facilities will allow it to accommodate up to 6 more pupils and increase the variety and quality of its offer, The Green Room Foundation said.

24/03133/FULL

Approved: RBWM has agreed to four flats in Windsor High Street.

The plan is for a change of use of the first and second floors from office to residential at number 11, opposite Windsor Parish Church

The building provides office space on all floors but the upper two floors are currently vacant.

The dwelling and room sizes are compliant with the nationally described space standard for a one-bed flat for one person, with a shower room (minimum 37sqm).

The applicants research showed ‘there is consistent demand for one-bedroom apartments in the centre of the town,’ they said.

Windsor and Eton Society had urged RBWM not to approve the flats until an ongoing waste problem in the area is resolved, as the society felt certain the letting of flats here would make the situation worse.

Nevertheless, the council approved the application.

24/01230/FULL

Pending: Sorbon Estates (part of Shanly Group) seeks planning permission for development at Nos 59 to 61, St Leonards Road and land to the rear, known as Trinity Yard.

The proposed development in Trinity Yard is a part two storey and part three storey redevelopment scheme. It comprises seven commercial units on the ground floor and 15 residential units on the first and second floors.

The proposals include a bridge link at first floor level across the access to Trinity Yard, a link at first floor level between Nos 59 and 61 St Leonard’s Road,

The aim is to provide a bedroom with ensuite facilities connecting to an existing residential unit on the first floor of No 59 St Leonard’s Road, and to create a two bedroom unit at the front of No 59 and 61; and a one bedroom duplex unit to the rear of No 61 St Leonard’s Road.

In total there will be 5 residential units on the upper floors of Nos 59, 59a and 61 St Leonard’s Road - two one-beds and three two-beds.

The ground floor of buildings 59, 59a, and 61 will continue to be used for businesses, shops, or services, rather than being turned into housing.

There will be 15 parking spaces and a cycle storage area with space for 22 bicycles.

25/00460/OUT

Withdrawn: A plan to change the use of the land to enable 14 residential park homes at the Queens Head site in Windsor Road, Water Oakley, has been withdrawn.

This is effectively a caravan park on a site set within the greenbelt. The applicant argued that a caravan park is 'more sympathetic to the character of the area.'

By contrast, Bray Parish Council had recommended against the proposal, believing there to be none of the 'very special circumstances' needed to justify building on the greenbelt.

Either way, the application was withdrawn. Applicants do not need to provide a reason for any withdrawal.