DEVELOPERS have taken another stab at trying to redevelop a closed down garden centre in Windsor into new housing following an appeal dismissal.

The applicants have submitted fresh plans in hopes to turn the former Squires Garden Centre, which closed in November 2018, on Maidenhead Road into 30 homes after hitting several roadblocks.

The developers withdrew their then 39-home plan in 2017. A revised scheme of 37 dwellings was thrown out by councillors back in 2019 due to its inappropriate impact on the greenbelt and openness as well as of the development’s layout, scale, and bulkiness would result in a ‘dense’ site.

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This went to appeal as the applicants believed a ‘very special circumstance’ existed due to the affordable housing it proposed, which was 11.

But the planning inspectorate agreed with councillors’ decision for the same reasons and dismissed their case.

In the newly revised plans, the developers have scaled down the number of homes to 30 and are proposing eight flats and a mixture of 22 detached, semi-detached, and terraced properties.

 

Drawings of the proposed homes

Drawings of the proposed homes

 

Nine affordable homes, which will be a mix of one and two-beds, are also proposed, achieving the council’s 30 per cent policy.

The new apartment block has been reduced from three-storeys to two, with 40 degree pitched roofs to replicate neighbouring properties. The side elevations have also been reduced in scale to harmonise with street appearance.

Nearly 70 car parking spaces are included, as well as cycle storage and private garden space for the homes.

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In the design and access statement, it states: “The proposals submitted seek to positively respond to the points made at the refusal of the previous application.

“In particular through the reduction in the number of apartments, along with the significant reduction in scale and massing of the remaining apartment block. Care has been taken in the design of the proposals to retain the positive aspects of the previous scheme whilst improving the character and openness of the development.”