Planning application 17/01938/FUL

20 Bridge Street Staines

Staines Town Society objects to this proposal as over-development.  It is too large and out of scale with the listed buildings in Clarence Street, its immediate neighbour no 41 in particular.  The photographs and text in the Application try to imply that the present buildings are an odd little leftover, but it does not follow that another large bland smooth white block, at a density of 429 dwellings per hectare, will enhance the Staines Conservation Area.

The claim on pp 22 & 28 of the Design & Access Statement that the building will ‘mediate’ between the heights of its neighbours is untrue, as the elevations show that it is higher than both of them.  In the block diagram on p 28 it towers over 41 Clarence Street.

This is not an attractive development.  The flats are small, though over the legal minimum, there is no open space or landscaping, and no parking.  The private car park at the back is fully used, and the idea that residents of no. 20 might be able to use it is mere wishful thinking.  Space is very limited and the construction process will cause considerable nuisance to neighbours.

The risk of overshadowing and loss of sunlight and of outlook is much greater than claimed.  The occupiers of the top flat in Provident House will find their river views blocked by a brick wall.  Provident House is set back from the pavement, and the southern section of this development is not, so it will block afternoon sunshine and the river view from the frontage of Provident House.

The adverse impact of the development would be reduced by removing one floor, preferably floor 3 which has the smallest flat.  The building would be smaller and less bulky, less out of scale with Clarence Street, and would be less damaging to light & outlook of Provident House.