Developers wanted to add two new floors to the L’avenir building on Opladen Way in order to add the one and two-bedroom homes, but planning bosses told applicants these proposals could not go ahead.
Despite Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) officers’ recommendations to give the plans the green light, councillors denied the plans as the proposed extension would make the building “overly prominent”.
The new size of the site would have gone against council planning rules as the redeveloped building would have been “out of keeping with the character of the area.”
Of the 45 new homes, only two would have been designated as affordable housing after developers complained the scheme would not be viable if more than two were provided.
This would have meant applicants would be providing just four per cent affordable homes – 21 per cent less than what is typically required by BFC.
The lack of affordable housing was another reason members of BFC’s planning committee chucked out the plans as this also contradicted council development policies.
READ NOW: Elderly woman threatened by man with hammerDanielle Turner, town councillor for Crown Wood, told the News: “As a resident of Crown Wood and a town councillor for the ward I am delighted with the refusal of the application.
“A large number of residents have voiced their concerns so hopefully this outcome will be a peace of mind to them.
“Opladen Way and the sports centre roundabout are already under increasing pressure infrastructure wise so the addition of this build would have caused horrendous issues for residents.
“The increase in size would have been exceptionally overbearing and out of keeping with the area and would have been a distraction in my opinion to drivers on the Bagshot road
“I am especially pleased as the pitiful four per cent allocation of affordable housing was simply not good enough.
READ ALSO: The restaurants you can get free food from on results day!“Our residents need affordable housing, not overpriced flats which will ultimately force families away from the community.”
More than 60 residents submitted objections to the plans, which were originally set for the all-clear in September 2018 before being withdrawn from committee consideration by applicants.
Residents were worried about insufficient parking, an increase in noise levels and a reduction in privacy resulting from the redeveloped building.
The building was originally used as offices and in 2017 developers received prior approval to convert the existing three floors into 69 apartments.
Had the scheme been given the go-ahead, the further 45 units would have taken the total number of homes to 114.
NOW READ: Residents upset after care home gets green light in BinfieldCouncillors voted to refuse the plans at a BFC meeting on Thursday, August 15.
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