‘Urbanising’ flat plan thrown out
Cookham: Concerns raised over three-storey block
A Royal Borough panel has voted to refuse a proposal to build flats next to Cookham station – going against officers’ recommendations.
At a meeting of the development panel on Wednesday, March 17, councillors reviewed a proposal to build 12 flats on Station Court, High Road.
The development would consist of a three-storey building reaching around 10 metres in height.
The Sorbon Estates’ application has received 49 public objections.
Many of the objections were centred around the scale and height of the building while others focused on the character of the area, which contains mainly Victorian cottages and bungalows.
Doubt was also cast on the officers’ assessment of parking provision, which they deemed to be acceptable.
The proposal offers one parking space for every twobedroom flat, with no parking for visitors, tradesmen or deliveries.
Councillor Gerry Clark (Con, Bisham and Cookham) said that this could ‘overwhelm’ the parking capacity.
“Families in the cottages already struggle to park their cars,” he said.
He added that this could have road safety implications and become a hazard to the elderly and disabled.
Cookham parish councillor Bill Perry highlighted his concerns about ‘creeping urbanisation’ affecting the rural character of the area.
“You wouldn’t put a block like this in the middle of Bray, Hurley or Waltham St Lawrence,” he said.
A representative for the applicant said that the flat would be an improvement on the site’s current use as a scaffolding yard, for motor repairs and other light industrial functions.
He said the flats would provide a ‘significant visual benefit’ and the existing station structures have ‘very limited heritage value’.
However, councillors did not agree with this, instead describing the area as a nondesignated heritage site.
Cllr Leo Walters (Con, Bray) also questioned the claim that the Royal Borough’s housing need makes this development necessary.
“There’s no shortage of flats – it was only the other day we were approving hundreds and hundreds of flats in Maidenhead,” he said.
Councillors also raised concerns about the noise level and very close proximity to the station platform.
The panel unanimously rejected the application.
The full details of this planning application can be found on the Windsor and Maidenhead planning portal, under reference: 20/00864/OUT.