More Flats Coming

The relentless tide of applications to build flats, or convert offices to flats, in Staines continues.  Increasing the number of people living in the town centre may be a civilising influence – if only the flats were not so small.

Council Offices

It is a pity that Spelthorne BC has set a bad example to developers by proposing to convert the West Wing of the Council Offices into shoebox flats, including two of only 40 sq.m.  We attended the Planning Committee and pointed out that 14 of the 25 proposed flats are so small that they would be illegal in a new building.  Councillors were visibly disconcerted by this, and we hope to see a new plan for a better development.

20 Bridge Street

The plan for 9 flats in 5 storeys at 20 Bridge Street was refused because of the overbearing impact on neighbouring buildings, and a smaller scheme without the top floor was accepted.  However, the developer has appealed against refusal of the larger block.

Other applications in the pipeline include:

18/01159/FUL Ex-servicemen’s club at 6 Laleham Road

– an unfortunate mixture of a new (and noisy?) clubhouse and 14 flats, filling the entire site.  The existing building is certainly very ugly, but we have objected that a prime riverside site like this deserves better than what is now proposed.

18/01318/FUL  25-27 Clarence Street

– demolish the existing listed building, and replace with shop and 6 flats, 5 of them just over the legal minimum size of 37 sq.m.  This is a variation on a plan approved in 2009 but not built.  Externally it will be a rather poor copy of the listed Georgian terrace next door.  Spelthorne BC has not used its powers over the years to prevent the neglect and decay of this once fine building, despite urging by us.

18/01468/FUL  51 Leacroft

– 9 flats with 13 car spaces after demolishing a large house.  There used to be several substantial Victorian houses at the bottom of Leacroft, mostly now replaced by blocks of flats.

18/01464/FUL  62 Kingston Road

– 6 flats, including two of 38 sq.m.  This is the derelict house near the railway station.  There is an existing permission to demolish and build 5 flats, and the present application is a variation with the top floor flat split into two very small ones.

18/01533/FUL   Phoenix pub, 43 Church Street

Now called Two Rivers Bar and Restaurant

– demolish and replace with 11 flats on 4 floors over a cafe.  Looks much too large and out of scale with the street.

And for a change,

Old Pumping Station Wheatsheaf Lane

18/00435/FUL, a new house on the site of the old pumping station in Green Belt land off Wheatsheaf Lane.  This was refused, to the great relief of the neighbours.  We helped to establish that the site was indeed in the Green Belt and not just outside it.

You can use the number to look up a planning application on Spelthorne BC website. (link opens in a new window) STS responses and other information can be found on the Society’s website.