ROYAL Borough councillors have rebelled against officers’ advice to refuse a flats plan in Ascot that was judged “fussy” looking.
Despite the council’s own planners recommending that the panel approves developer Apricot Properties Ltd’s scheme, members decided to refuse it due to overdevelopment fears and the building’s scale, position, and “poor design”.
The developer wanted to demolish a 1960s apartment block and semi-detached homes on Lady Margaret Road, Sunningdale, to erect a 2.5-storey building that holds 10 apartments, all of which are two-bedroomed.
It also offers basement parking for 15 vehicles with two overground visitor bays and 12 cycle parking spaces to the rear of the site.
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Due to viability, the scheme could not offer any affordable housing. However, a review mechanism would have been in place to double-check if any affordable housing could be provided at a later date if development went ahead.
Speaking at a Windsor and Ascot development management panel, Sunningdale parish councillor Yvonne Jacklin described the design of the apartment block as “fussy and complicated”.
She said: “The very fussiness and complexity of the design means the building will be significantly more expensive to build because of the plethora of features.
“This matters because the applicant claims that this development is not economically viable as a justification for not providing affordable housing.”
A resident also raised concerns that the apartment block could overshadow his garden and a loss of privacy.
The applicant’s agent, Lucy Anderson, said this new scheme has addressed previous concerns mentioned and stressed the council’s planning officers have recommended approval.
She also said the existing buildings are “out of date” and the proposed apartment block will bring high-quality housing that provides social, environmental, and economic benefits.
Planning officers have said that they have considered those concerns but believe they are not substantial enough to warrant refusal.
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But Cllr Julian Sharpe (Con: Ascot & Sunninghill) echoed the objectors’ concerns, adding: “It seems to me within the footprint of the land that is available there, we don’t actually end up with a useful and attractive design for that site.
“It seems to me that it is overly large for that site and really doesn’t have the right design credentials for that area.”
Cllr David Hilton (Con: Ascot & Sunninghill) said the building was of “poor design” and believed it was an overdevelopment of the site.
He forwarded a motion to refuse the scheme, which was seconded by Cllr Sayonara Luxton (Con: Sunningdale & Cheapside).
A majority of councillors voted in favour of rejecting the scheme – with Cllr Carole Da Costa (WWRA: Clewer & Dedworth East) being the only member to abstain – on Wednesday, March 1.
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