Exclusive House

A development in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Client: Private Client

Status: Application Approved, under Construction (2019) Target Completion date 2020

On behalf of our client a Full Planning Application for the residential redevelopment of the vacant site, formerly occupied by a wholesale manufacturer and supplier of haberdashery items was designed, prepared and submitted. The scheme proposals comprised the demolition of the redundant building and the provision of a new bespoke apartment building to provide 37 new units with associated parking and amenity space. The application proposed the change of use of the site from a commercial B class use to Use Class C3 and to provide a high quality sustainable development with particular attention given to the number of units that the Council identified within the new Local Plan (submission version June 2017). The scheme provides a mix of units to cater for market needs including 9 no. 1 bed flats and 28 no. 2 bed flats. The provision of smaller units, 1-2 beds, were a direct response to market housing in this location, reflecting the highly sustainable location of the site within close proximity of the town centre and railway station.

The new apartment building adopts a more contemporary approach with a palette of materials to provide a sympathetic transition to the more traditional style brick buildings which neighbour the site. The constructed building is red brick, has limited use of render to ‘frame’ parts of the building and zinc detailing. Overall, the building makes a positive contribution to the street scene, particularly in comparison to the degraded building which occupied the site and was seen as something of an eyesore.

 

JSA included two new communal amenity areas that are soft landscaped with grass and border planting and furthermore, the scheme is landscaping the existing piece of waste ground to the rear of the site with new tree, hedge and shrub planting. The development improves the ecological potential of the site whilst also enhancing the visual appearance of both the site and its setting. The scheme has a total of 52 parking bays to serve the needs of future residents. The site is considered to have a very sustainable location within a short distance (circa 1.2km) from the railway station and less than 0.5km from the town centre. Accordingly, the site is not car dependant giving future residents’ opportunities for alternative modes of transport including walking, cycling, bus and rail.

The site has subsequently been sold to a housing developer and is now under construction.