L'avenir could see 45 homes built at office space

The construction of a third floor at the L’avenir building on Opladen Way would mean an additional 45 new one and two-bedroom flats could be built on the new storey, with a fourth floor operating as a roof extension.

Proposals were set for the all-clear in September 2018 but were withdrawn from committee consideration by applicants.

Designs are now set to be approved by Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) planning bosses, despite 61 objections being received by the authority.

Residents are worried about insufficient parking, an increase in noise levels and a reduction in privacy resulting from the redeveloped building.

One neighbour wrote: “Flats never provide enough parking so this will tempt people to park in nearby roads.

“Parking is already an issue on many of these roads as very few houses have driveways.

“The height would dominate the skyline and would tower over the lower properties.”

Another wrote: “As L’avenir is at the moment it looks pleasant and fits into the surrounding area.

“If an additional two floors are added I feel it will be imposing and take over the whole area.”

The building was originally used as offices and in 2017 developers received prior approval to convert the existing three floors into 69 apartments.

Should the scheme go ahead, the further 45 units will take the total number of homes to 114, with 171 car parking spaces.

The new homes would be one and two-bedroom spaces but just two of these will be affordable housing after developers complained the scheme would not be viable if more than two were provided.

This means applicants would be providing just four per cent affordable homes – 21 per cent less than what is typically required by the council.

Councillors will decide on the plans at a meeting on Thursday, August 15.