Unanimous approval for 53 new homes
Slough Borough Council has unanimously approved plans for 53 homes to be built on the site of a historic pub in Langley.
Based on Trelawney Avenue, the 1.3-acre site of the former Merrymakers pub was sold by Slough Borough Council in November last year and Elstree Land earmarked the land for affordable housing.
The redevelopment will comprise a four-storey block of 33 flats and 20 homes with 71 car parking spaces for all residents. Council members previously considered an application in February 2021 to redevelop the site to provide a community hub for flats and 20 sheltered housing units. It was approved subject to section 106 (developer contributions) but the discussions never took place and the application was subsequently withdrawn.
This new proposed development will provide policycompliant affordable housing including four onebed flats, four two-bed flats and eight houses.
The planning officer said this carries ‘significant positive weight’ to the overall planning balance.
Elstree Land agent Kieran Wheeler spoke in favour of the application which comprises brownfield land in a sustainable location and provides ‘much-needed’ flats and family homes for the council. Abri Housing Association will build out and occupy the homes and intends to deliver the remaining homes as affordable units but for funding reasons, the provision of 100 per cent affordable housing can only be secured once planning permission is granted.
Mr Wheeler said: “The affordable housing provision is policy-compliant in terms of its quantum, mix and tenure. Given the contract arrangement already in place [with Abri], there is a clear commitment to deliver more affordable homes on this site.”
Conservative Langley Marish ward councillor Chandra Muvvala addressed the meeting on Wednesday and recommended an amendment to the plans to have a secured entrance gate to the development to ‘improve the comfort and confidence of the children’ living in the site.
Councillor Pavitar Kaur Mann (Lab, Britwell) said she didn’t support this recommendation for a gated entrance but ‘wholeheartedly’ supported the scheme.
She said: “I just in general don’t support segregated communities. A gated entrance also has a significant cost impact for the applicant and has a bigger impact on highway concerns.
She commended the applicant adding: “It just shows how a good quality scheme that does address housing need for Slough but in particular addresses the acute need we have for affordable housing can be delivered on a site such as this.”