Approval for new Clewer home as long as 180-year-old oak tree remains

A planning application for a detached house in Clewer has been approved despite planning officers' recommendations to refuse the application.

The Windsor Urban Development Control Panel met last night to discuss the application which will see the building of a two-storey detached building on a corner plot in Illingworth.

Planning officers recommended the refusal of the application due to the development being 'cramped and contrived within the streetscene' as well as the potential loss of a 180-year-old oak tree.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Phil Bicknell (Con, Park), said: "We're not in the business of trying to damage 180-year-old trees but with modern foundations, I can't see why this house can't be built with the tree being able to survive as well.”

Cllr Bicknell and Cllr George Bathurst (Con, Castle Without) voted in favour of the application while Cllr Simon Meadowcroft (Con, Clewer South), Cllr Peter Lawless (Con, Eton Wick), and Cllr Gary Muir (Con, Datchet) voted against.

Chairman Cllr Eileen Quick (Con, Clewer East) gave the deciding vote in favour of the application with the condition of enabling the tree to survive.

The meeting took place at Windsor Guildhall.