The demolition of a mansion worth £3.3 million in Ascot is going ahead.
The house called Tree Tops in Bodens Ride, Ascot, is a unique mansion located just a stonesthrow from Swinley Forest Golf Club.
Despite its distinctive design, a plan was submitted to demolish it and replace it with a new six bedroom home in December 2021.
The project was opposed by the Society for the protection of Ascot and environs (SPAE), which argued that the new building would be disproportionately larger and bulkier than the existing house.
Furthermore, the group raised concerns with the project because it involves building on the Green Belt.
But ultimately the plan was approved by Bracknell Forest Council.
The decision to grant the application was made by principle planning officer following a delegated report by planning officer Basia Polnik.
She concluded that the replacement project was agreeable.
In her recommendation for approval, officer Polnik wrote: “The replacement of a dwelling within the Green Belt is considered to be appropriate development providing it is not materially larger.
“The application has been reduced so there is an overall increase in volume of less than 16 per cent across the site, whilst there is a reduction in footprint.
“It is therefore not considered that the proposal results in a materially larger development.”
The rules around building on Green Belt land is defined in the National Planning Policy Framework, with officer Polnik judging that the project complied with.
Furthermore, she determined that it would not have an adverse impact on the local area or neighbouring properties.
The home replacement project was granted in June last year.
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Since then, the developers, a private family, have submitted details the council has requested so that the project can go ahead.
One of the conditions of the project is that no work shall take place until a scheme is devised to limit the impact the demolition and construction will have on bats in the area.
The scheme must include methods to avoid killing, injuring or disturbing bats while the project takes place.
The developers then submitted a bat mitigation strategy which was approved by the council’s planning department in December last year.
They have also submitted details of the external materials that will be used to build the new home, provided a sustainability statement and conducted an energy demand assessment for the new home.
Both of these applications were approved in November 2022.
The developers are now expected to submit more details to the council before the demolition project can begin.
The Tree Tops is accessed from Coronation Road and falls within the jurisdiction of Winkfield Parish Council.
You can view the applications by typing the references into Bracknell Forest Council’s planning portal:
- Approved plan to demolish and replace Tree Tops – 21/01172/FUL
- Bat mitigation – 22/00121/COND
- Definition of external materials – 22/00130/COND
- Energy and sustainability statement and assessment – 22/00128/COND
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