The Majestic block of 260 flats in the High Street is under construction, and phase 2 will be another 104 flats at the back of the site. Behind that is the Renshaw site, where a scheme of 275 houses and flats, creditably larger than the minimum sizes, has been approved. The ground around the blocks will be raised by four feet, with ramps, to provide level access without increasing the flood risk. We asked for a children’s play area on site, and this was agreed by councillors.
The Centrica site at 17-51 London Road has been bought by Berkeley Homes, who assure us of a higher quality development than the plans previously agreed. We await the details with interest.
So far none of these large schemes has anything like the amount of affordable housing envisaged in the Local Plan policies. Housebuilders are able to reduce their affordable housing quotas by means of viability assessments, which include a 20% profit for the builder.
The plan to convert the Town Hall to 13 flats was approved, and the architects have told us that they plan to improve the route for disabled access, which is currently very unsatisfactory.
There are many smaller housing schemes and office conversions, including an extra floor at Bridge House and the replacement of 20 Bridge Street, ex Ting Ting restaurant, with a 5 storey block of 9 flats which will tower over the listed building next door at 41 Clarence Street. Proposed conversions include the old police station to 14 flats, all under the minimum size standard, an office in Drake Avenue to 11 flats, and conversions of space above shops, such as 29 Clarence Street, 7 High Street (in Market Square), and 20-22 High Street , which offers ‘studios’ of 26 sq.m.
Spelthorne BC have bought several properties including the White House at the bottom of Kingston Road, Harper Hotel in Ashford, and Benwell House in Sunbury, to provide housing and so ease housing shortage and reduce the use of B&B for homeless people. This will probably do more to meet local housing need than the availability of 1-bed flats for £360K in the Majestic development.
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