Public notices: Plan for 28 flats above car showroom; school seeks changes to approved classrooms

In the public notices this week, there are some significant planning notices in South Bucks.

A ‘major’ application has been submitted to redevelop the Thames House site in Bells Hill, Stoke Poges into a building comprising a car showroom and 28 flats.

The proposal is for the demolition of the existing car showroom in favour of its new, smaller replacement, with 28 one-bedroom flats above.

The 2,800sqm site, which is classified as brownfield, has no trees on or next to it.

Current uses include vehicle repairs, servicing, preparation, MOTs and vehicle sales.

In 2019, a full application was made for eight two-bedroom flats, later increased at the council’s suggestion to 12 one-bedroom flats.

The application’s design statement says: “It appears that the council were asking the developer to put more development into their application. Throughout the council’s report we see repeated references to... making effective and efficient use of land, and this was obviously the driver.

“Unfortunately, the additional amount was not sufficient to achieve financial viability.

“This application seeks to redress that balance and produce a scheme which can be built without further delay.”

On the previous scheme, the council’s highways officer found that the changes of the 768sqm car showroom down to a 588sqm one would decrease vehicle movements substantially.

Currently, there are about 151 vehicle movements per day, going down to 79.

On the flats side, a one-bed unit has the potential to generate two to four vehicular movements per day, making 36–72 in total.

“It would remain the case, therefore, that the proposals would lead to a reduction in vehicular movements from the current site,” said the application.

Parking provision would be one space per flat, along with 28 cycle spaces.

Also in South Bucks, a significant development seeks variations in their approved plans.

An application has already been approved to create classroom space at Teikyo School in Framewood Road, Wexham.

These plans include four temporary classrooms and changes to the landscape to allow an increase in the size of a temporary building, as well as refurbishment of the theatre buildings.

The application seeks some variations since permission was granted by Bucks council.

One, they wish to change the design of the temporary modular classroom – replacing the approved two-storey unit with a slightly larger two-storey one, also adding two extra classrooms – making six.

Applicants also want to revise the theatre building plans – minor, mostly internal changes.

These are meant to allow both theatre buildings to be refurbished at the same time rather than in two phases, shortening the overall build time and reducing the temporary classroom’s use from about 30 months to about 18 months.