Town's flat complex unanimously rejected

Plans to build a block of flats reaching as tall as nine storeys near the centre of Slough have been rejected by councillors.

Developers asked for permission to build the 34-flat complex on a plot of land on Stoke Gardens in Elliman ward, opposite the major Horlicks development.

Slough Borough Council's planning officers recommended that councillors voted to refuse the scheme on several grounds including that its "design, scale and massing" would "not be in keeping with the character of the area".

They also said that the developer had not shown how its size would impact on the Horlicks development and noted that the plans included no car parking.

Planning agent for the applicant Ian Donohue argued that the scheme should have got permission.

He said the Horlicks development had "resulted in a fundamental change to the character of the area" which meant the block of flats should be approved.

He also noted that the Horlicks development was "considerably higher at 17 storeys" and "as such the development would not be out of character with the area".

Mr Donohue added that the lack of car parking would help to reduce CO2 emissions and that a car sharing scheme "could be linked to the Horlicks site".

However, he said that if councillors did not support the plans then officers' concerns "could be addressed through amendments".

But planning officer Shivesh Seedhar said the problems the officers had with the scheme were "fundamental".

Slough Borough Council's planning committee unanimously refused the application on Wednesday.

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