Staines – High Rise Flats

by | Dec 13, 2017 | 2017 Winter Newsletter, Local Planning News

MORE HIGH-RISE FLATS IN STAINES TOWN CENTRE

Renshaw Ltd have submitted proposals (17/01365/OUT on SBC website) to develop their industrial estate at Mill Mead, the area between the Majestic site and the Moormede houses, the whole site including the existing units as well as those destroyed by fire in 2014. The plans show 275 units, mostly flats, in two blocks rising from 3 storeys on the side facing Moormede to 11 on the side backing on to the 12 storey Majestic development.  Access will be by the new link road to Fairfield Avenue, and Mill Mead will be pedestrianised.  There will be 250 parking spaces, and no use of the nearby residents’ parking zones.

This scheme is better than those already agreed for the Majestic, Centrica, and Bridge Street sites: the flats are not so small, there is some affordable housing, and more open space including a children’s playground.   Renshaw Ltd, who have owned & managed the estate for many years, have tried to produce a fairly civilised community.

But the basic facts remain. This area suffers from noise and high levels of air pollution, and is in flood zone 2, which means that the ground floor has to be raised a metre above street level, creating problems with disabled access.  It is not a good environment for housing, and will add to the cumulative impact of development on Staines.  About 1000 new flats in four big schemes, Majestic, Centrica, Renshaw – and no doubt Bridge Street will turn up again – will increase congestion, pollution, and pressure on services.  Fairfield Avenue traffic will be a nightmare.  We as residents have not been asked if we want our familiar town so radically transformed.

Meanwhile on the Majestic site an ‘investment meeting’ has been held to encourage landlords to buy the flats being built, and to rent them out. Suggested prices are

  • One-bed flat – £360,000, or £1350 per month rent
  • Two-bed flat – £425,000, or £1550 per month rent
  • Three-bed flat – £640,000, or £2100 per month rent.

We find it hard to believe that anyone would pay so much for a small high-rise flat in a polluted area, but we may be mistaken. The developers are confident and have announced plans to build 101 more flats in a 12 storey block on the western part of the site, instead of the offices originally planned there.