A block of flats will finally replace an already demolished Indian restaurant in Crowthorne due to a legal agreement being reached. 

After being granted planning approval by Bracknell Forest Council last year, the landowner, Neil De-Mendonca, can at last begin building the eight flats on the site of the former The Mango Tree restaurant on Church Street, after the signing of a Section 106 agreement. 

A Section 106 is a legal document signed between both parties whereby the developer agrees to pay funds to the council in order to mitigate the impacts on the area. 

The popular restaurant closed its doors permanatently in 2016 and the building was subsequently demolished in 2020. 

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Mr De-Mendonca had already been given permission to replace it with five flats but wanted to make amendments to the application to include a further three properties in the new building. 

Prior to this, a bid to replace The Mango Tree with ten apartments had been crushed by the council’s planning team as it was determined that the plan would be “detrimental to the character of the area” and the number of flats would provide “cramped” and “unsafe” accommodation. 

The newly approved plan will see the construction of eight two-bedroom flats, each with their own en-suite bathroom – except one which will have a single shared bathroom. 

There will be three flats each on the ground floor and the first floor, with a further two located in the roof space. 

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Whilst the original building had a basement which was approved to be converted to bedroom space, the latest plans omitted this. 

Their exclusion prevented the potential for any lighting, amenity, and security related issues being raised. 

When the original proposal went before the planning committee last autumn, concerns were raised about the plan falling short of the council’s parking standards. 

A total of 17 car parking spaces will be provided, including two disabled bays – which is one less than what the council’s parking standards demand. 

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In his summary, the chairman of the committee Cllr Colin Dudley, explained that officers had recommended it would be “far more suitable” to leave out the missing car parking space to prevent departing visitors having to reverse out into the road. 

Spaces for a minimum of 18 bicycles will be provided by way of a ‘lean to’ extension to the rear of the newly built apartment block. 

Construction work can now get going at the site, which is currently sealed off with hoardings.