‘THIS will create second-class citizens within the development’: Councillors reject plans to build retirement homes on former hospice site.
A majority of members on the Royal Borough planning committee rebelled against the officer’s recommendations to approve 45 flats intended for those aged 55 and above.
The Thames Hospice Care, Pine Lodge, on Hatch Lane would’ve been demolished to make way for four two-storey detached homes, two 2.5-storey apartment blocks, and one three-storey apartment block with 44 car parking spaces, refuse store, and cycle storage.
The site would’ve provided fourteen units of affordable housing.
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At the Royal Borough Development Management panel on August 19 (Wednesday), speakers and some councillors objected to the application on the grounds the design is not in keeping with the ‘Victorian’ scenery – damaging the character of the area, lack of parking spaces where it will overspill onto the road, and the amenity space not being at a high standard.
It was added the location was deemed unsuitable for the elderly as there are no nearby shops within walking distance and nearby trees could impact light on the site which could result in future pruning.
Speaking against the application, councillor Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrats: Furze Platt) compared the size difference between the affordable housing and market sale accommodation.
In the plans, the largest size for affordable housing was 80sqm whereas the minimum size for market sale was 100sqm.
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It was also heard none of the affordable units have any balconies – but every market sale flat, first floor and above, have balconies.
Cllr Reynolds said: “Having shared ownership with less amenity space, and no private amenity space, will create second-class citizens within the development.
“Those second-class citizens will be the affordable unit citizens.
He added: “This is units in Windsor where the affordable ones are much, much smaller – at least 20sqm smaller and sometimes 30 or 40sqm smaller – for the same number of bedrooms, a lower design quality, and with no private amenity space where every single market sale property has amenity space.
“It really isn’t good enough and reading the application fully in-depth, it really angered me to see the officers were asking us to approve this development with the obvious design flaws and second-class citizens this creates.”
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Voting against refusal, councillor David Hilton (Conservative: Ascot and Sunninghill), said he disagreed with Cllr Reynolds view on affordable housing as the units are smaller – but they will be cheaper for people who wish to buy their own property.
The agent, Guy Dixon, said they have amended the original plan after receiving 13 letters of objection to make it more in keeping with the area, nearby bus services can give residents access to Windsor town centre, and officers confirming there will be no impacts to nearby neighbours in terms of light reduction.
He added there are single yellow lines on Hatch Lane, restricting daytime on-street parking – lessening the impact of the overspill.
Six councillors were for refusal, one abstained, and two were against.
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