®Planning appeal decision
235 Farnham Road, slough, SL2 1DE
erection of a ground floor retail side extension to existing shop in front building, and extended storage in extended basement; demolition of the existing rear building, (consisting of existing rooftop carpark over existing kitchens and existing commercial buildings), and erection of 3 storey, rear extension over semi-basement, to provide 5 x 2 Bed + 13 x 1 bed flats; ancillary works including reinstatement of pavement on Farnham Road
- Authority
- Slough Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Owen A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- the effect on highway safety
- whether the development would be required to provide financial contributions towards affordable housing, local infrastructure and to mitigate any impact on the integrity of the Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and if so whether a suitable mechanism to secure that has been provided
- the effect on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties in respect of their outlook
- whether the development would provide acceptable living conditions for its future occupiers in respect of their outlook and noise
- whether the development would promote sustainable modes of travel
What decided it
The inevitable harmful effect on character and appearance from a three-storey extension of the scale necessary to provide 18 flats, combined with unacceptable highway safety impacts and failure to secure affordable housing, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing delivery on a brownfield site in a sustainable location.
The conflicts with policies relating to design, affordable housing and highway safety significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the provision of 18 flats on a brownfield site in a sustainable location and the economic benefits associated with that at a time when there is an insufficient supply of housing locally, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.
Framework references: 11, 61, 116, 125, 135, 139
Plan policies cited: Local Plan (2004) policy EN1, Local Plan (2004) policy EN3, Local Plan (2004) policy T8, Core Strategy (2008) Core Policy 1, Core Strategy (2008) Core Policy 4, Core Strategy (2008) Core Policy 7, Core Strategy (2008) Core Policy 8
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.