No to flats at former high street bank
Maidenhead: Faults and omissions in design
A plan to build eight new flats in Maidenhead High Street as part of a two-storey extension have been quashed by the Borough.
PNS Investments and Holdings Ltd had applied to erect a roof extension and new building at the rear of 40-42 High Street to create eight residential units.
There would also have been alterations to the front elevation and windows, a new bin store and associated works.
The site is vacant and was last used as a base for the Royal Bank of Scotland. Betting firm Ladbrokes is taking over the commercial unit at the front of the store.
The housing plans sought ‘to make effective use’ of a brownfield site by adding ‘high-quality accommodation,’ developers wrote in their planning statement.
Flats would have been made up of five one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom. None were proposed to be affordable.
The building was previously a bank branch, with the main public area at ground floor and two storeys of office space above.
All the internal floors have been stripped out and are now open plan.
The proposal, as submitted, falls below the threshold of 10 dwellings for the provision of affordable housing – however ‘it is demonstrably part of a larger developable area above the 10-dwelling threshold.’
This absence of affordable housing is contrary to the policies set out in the Borough Local Plan. No completed agreement for contributions to offset carbon emissions was submitted.
Council planning officers said the designs would result in harm to the character and appearance of Maidenhead Conservation Area, because of their height, design size, scale, massing and materials. W To see all planning documents, enter reference 22/02341/FULL into the Royal Borough’s planning portal.