Planning appeal decision
53 Lower Cookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8JX
Planning appeal 3322129 at 53 Lower Cookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 8JX (Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead) was dismissed on 27 October 2023 by Inspector Edwards J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be acceptable with respect to flood risk.
construction of 5 dwellings with new access off The Avenue, following demolition of the existing dwelling and annexe
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Edwards J
- Postcode
- SL6 8JX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be acceptable with respect to flood risk
- the effect on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect on bats
- whether the development would be designed so as to adapt and mitigate against climate change
What decided it
The failure to satisfy the sequential test for flood risk, which provides a clear reason for refusal under NPPF footnote 7 and prevents the presumption in favour of sustainable development from applying.
The modest increase in housing supply and benefits of addressing housing demand were given moderate weight but did not override the harm caused by flood risk sequential test failure, character and appearance harm, and insufficient bat survey information.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy NR1Policy QP3Policy NR2Policy SP2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 162Paragraph 99Paragraph 11
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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What an account adds to this decision


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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.
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