Shoppenhangers Manor housing plans approved on appeal

An application to build up to 52 homes in Manor Lane in Maidenhead has been given the green light on appeal.

Outline planning permission for the development, at the former site of Shoppenhangers Manor, has been granted by the Planning Inspectorate after the initial application was refused by the Royal Borough in August.

The plans, from HI (Maidenhead) Ltd, were originally submitted in March last year and involved proposals to build a mixture of two and three bedroom houses and two and one bedroom flats at the site of the manor, which had stood next to the Holiday Inn since 1915 before being pulled down in 2007.

The plans were unanimously refused by the council following officer concerns about the detrimental impact on the character of the area and the lack of on-site parking.

There were also concerns about the environmental impact of the development, with much of the site covered by a tree preservation order (TPO).

A report of the Planning Inspectorate's decision looked at illustrative layouts for both 56-unit and 52-unit developments on the site and found the 56-unit proposal would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area but the 52-unit plans would cause no such harm.

It said the smaller layout had more scope to retain the 'spacious and sylvan' character of the road and 'suggests a softer transition from Manor Lane to the heart of the development'.

The report, by inspector Olivia Spencer, also stated the plans for up to 52 homes would not have a significant adverse impact on the neighbouring Sunny Cottage and the development has enough parking and would not 'pose a significantly increased risk to the safety of drivers or pedestrians on existing roads'.

The outline plans were approved, subject to conditions including improvement works to Manor Lane and Shoppenhangers Road and the implementation of a construction management plan.