CONTROVERSIAL plans to build 80 homes on open space prone to flooding will not be heard by ministers after a developer suddenly withdrew the scheme.
A hearing was meant to take place on September 13 on CALA Homes’ plans to build new homes and 32 flats on Deerswood Meadow in Ray Mill Road East, Maidenhead, but has now been cancelled after the scheme was withdrawn by the developer.
A spokesperson for CALA Homes said because the site is now allocated within the adopted borough local plan (BLP) as a pocket park (AL27), they took the decision to withdraw the scheme.
They said: “We do not consider new housing is compatible with this new allocation. We wish RBWM every luck in delivering the site as new public open space for the town”.
The application was ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State in April primarily due to flooding concerns. This meant an independent planning inspector would review the plans and a hearing would be held with the developer, the council, and objectors where ministers will have the final say.
During that process, an article 31 was put in place, meaning a decision notice to give the plans the go-ahead was blocked.
READ MORE: Maidenhead 80-homes scheme moves a step closer despite objections
Despite planning officers recommending refusal for the third time because of flooding and its impact on open space, the ruling Tories sitting on the Maidenhead development management panel in November approved the 80 homes scheme.
They liked the nearly 50 per cent offer of affordable homes but opposition councillors, campaign groups Friends of Deerswood Meadow, RBWM Climate Emergency Coalition, and Ray Mill Road East residents strongly opposed the plans due to flooding and its impact on open space.
The Maidenhead Liberal Democrats said in a statement approving the application has caused “serious damage” to the council’s reputation and has reduced public confidence in impartial and sound decision-making.
They called for the council to cancel its pre-sale agreement with CALA homes and relinquish its charge over the land, reverse a 2018 cabinet decision to appropriate the land for residential development, and fund an appropriate conservation plan for the meadow.
Despite the win, campaigners were fearful CALA Homes could come back with a new planning application. However, a spokesperson said housing is not compatible at the site with its new allocation.
Cllr John Baldwin (Lib Dem: Belmont), who voted against the plans in November and is part of the Friends of Deerswood Meadow campaign group, said: “This is a very welcome clarification by CALA Homes.
“Their ruthless pursuit of permission for this development has been a source of great anxiety for the residents, who have been forced to endure the threat of seriously increased flood risk for the last seven years. CALA's belated climb down will come as an enormous relief to many.
“As there is no longer a need for them to have a charge over the land, I will check it has been withdrawn and seek a written confirmation from RBWM that it will never again try to sell the land.”
A council spokesperson said Deerswood Meadow was originally earmarked within the emerging BLP as housing and entered an agreement with Cala Homes in 2018 to develop on the site.
But it was later removed due to flood risk and loss of urban open space. It has now been reallocated as a local pocket park under the adopted BLP.
They said: “The BLP was adopted in February 2022 making this part of the development plan for the borough, giving it full weight when determining planning applications. Any future potential planning application for the site would be considered as all planning applications are - on its own merits, in line with planning policy, including the adopted BLP.
“While we cannot stop any potential developer submitting a planning application on any site, any proposed housing development on this particular site would not be in accordance with planning policy and would almost certainly be strongly resisted.
“The original development agreement is now effectively null and void as this was subject to planning consent being in place.”
READ MORE: Maidenhead 80-homes plan 'called in' by Secretary of State
Adam Bermange, who was due to represent the RBWM Climate Emergency Coalition at September’s hearing, said he was “pleasantly surprised” to hear the withdrawal and thought the scheme was “doomed” as it went against planning policies.
He said: “The council’s own emergency planning team maintained an objection because they said it isn’t safe.
“It’s bizarre really that it was allowed to get as far as it got. By putting people’s safety in jeopardy in the future is not a great way to run things.”
However, Mr Bermange also said they are “not out of the woods” yet and are working to give Deerswood Meadow permanent and unchallengeable legal protection to shield it from housing development.
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