Two three-bedroom homes at Land to the Rear of 250-256 Long Furlong Drive, Slough

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing existing garages and building two two-storey semi-detached three-bedroom homes with parking and access gates.

“Land to the Rear of 250-256 Long Furlong Drive, Slough, SL2 2PJ Proposal: Construction of a proposed 2no. three bedroom dwelling following demolition of existing garages.”

“The application site comprises a former Slough Borough Council ‘garage site’ in which the applicants are seeking to demolish all existing buildings and erect a pair of two-storey semi-detached dwellings, each comprising of three bedrooms. The dwellings will face east-west with parking in the form of two spaces provided to the front (west) of each dwelling.”

Officer report

The site

The site was a former garage site with 11 unused garages, residential properties nearby and public open space to the north.

“The application site comprises a broadly rectangular parcel of land to the north of Long Furlong Drive accessed via a long single-track access adjacent to No.256 Long Furlong Drive. The site comprises a number of disused garages which were formerly owned by Slough Borough Council, but the land has been sold by SBC as part of its asset disposal programme.”

“There is a total of 11 garages on site, but the applicants confirmed that none of these are occupied. As well as residential properties to the east, south and west, the site adjoins public open space along its northern boundary, which also comprises some mature vegetation (not on the application site itself).”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to conditions, finding that adverse impacts would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the housing and other benefits.

“As the LPA cannot demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, c) above does not apply. With regard to d), Officers acknowledge that there would be potential benefits from the provision of housing, which is a significant benefit, although this benefit is tempered in scale to the fact that only two dwellings are being provided in the context of the overall Borough’s housing need.”

“Notwithstanding the above, the adverse impacts of the proposals would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the potential benefits associated with the proposal and as such, planning permission should be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:”

Officer report

Objections from neighbours

Objections from 11 addresses concerned access, parking, amenity, privacy, noise, design, overdevelopment, ecology and the effect on nearby homes.

“Objections have been received from 11 separate addresses in relation to the following planning matters (as summarised):”

“Proposed gates would result in disturbance, noise and enjoyment of No.256 Long Furlong Drive • No turning room for delivery vehicles and unclear whether emergency vehicles could access the site • Inappropriate backland development and overdevelopment of the site • Harm to residential amenity through overlooking, loss of privacy, loss of light, noise and disturbance • Unsafe access arrangements and parking impact through displaced parking • Development fails to respect the…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector addressed the committee.

The committee vote

Members voted by a majority to defer the application while further information about servicing arrangements and highway safety was obtained.

“Members voted by a majority vote to defer the application pending further information regarding servicing arrangements and to ensure these were safe from a highways perspective.”

Minutes

The decision

The application was deferred to a future committee meeting.

“Resolved – That the application be deferred to a future meeting of the Committee.”

Minutes