Plans for car sales showroom refused
Council officers cite several reasons for refusal
Plans to transform a historic former pub in George Green into a car sales showroom have been refused by Buckinghamshire Council.
Planning officers cited several reasons for refusal including the site being located in the Metropolitan greenbelt and constituting ‘inappropriate development’ within the protected area.
The application looked to transform The George Inn, a Grade II-listed former pub dating back over 150 years at 12 Post Office Lane into a car sales showroom complete with a reception, coffee shop and ancillary facilities.
Using the car park as a forecourt with additional landscaping was also included in the plans.
The application received 30 objections citing reasons such as the impact on the listed building, highways, greenbelt and character of the area.
Wexham Parish Council also objected, with reasons including the plans having a ‘dramatic effect’ on the location.
The application’s design and access statement, stated: “The plan proposes a bold, but workable solution to prevent the inexorable decline of the listed building and to ensure its sustainability as a community asset in the years ahead.”
Reduction to the openness of the greenbelt was cited in the reasons for refusal which added that no ‘very special circumstances’ had been outlined that ‘outweigh the harm that would be caused’ to the greenbelt.
Planning officers said the plans would not be considered compatible with the uses of the land and buildings next to the site and with the amenities and character of the local area in general.
“The proposal fails to provide the required level of information relating to the importance of the listed building or how the proposal will impact the designated heritage asset,” the notice stated.
Information identified by Buckinghamshire Council’s heritage team indicates that the plans would result in ‘less than substantial harm’ – meaning having a minor of moderate impact – to the listed building.
Officers added that this harm ‘is afforded great weight’ and no public benefit outweighing the harm identified has been found.
Insufficient information being submitted with the application to allow for the highways, traffic, and transport implications to be assessed was cited as another reason.
Planning officers believed the additional traffic likely to be generated by the plans ‘would adversely affect the safety and flow’ of current road users.
The plans were also refused because no ecological assessment had been submitted with the application, meaning the council were unable to determine if the proposal would impact protected species.
The design and access statement noted that when these plans are developed ‘trees and ecology considerations will be carefully considered for suitability, interest and sustainability’.
High flood risk was another factor cited in the decision notice.
The application can be viewed on the Buckinghamshire Council planning portal under: PL/23/3393/FA