Team Leader: Mr. K D. Streams
Phone: 01344 623086
Email: keith@streams733.orangehome.co.uk
Sunningdale has been particularly badly hit by the spate of applications for flats or town houses. Just look at the area around the A30: it has changed beyond all recognition. London Road, Lady Margaret Road, Charters Road, Cross Road, Greenways Drive, Devenish Road and Sunning Avenue have all been badly affected.
Fortunately, applications for even more development have been turned down following pressure from SPAE and the Parish Council. The Royal Borough has also temporarily restricted development, having achieved its current housing targets.
Another factor that has helped is an EU Directive to protect the wildlife habitat of nearby Chobham Common by limiting the number of people moving to the area. We expect developers to find ways round these restrictions, and SPAE's Sunningdale team are monitoring the situation closely.
Team Leader: Peter Standley
Phone: 01344 623 502
Email: peterstandley@onetel.com
Here again the character of the area is under threat. SPAE has successfully opposed many applications, but in a number of cases the developers appealed against the decisions. Several of the Appeal Panels assessed the applications on the basis of written submissions, and SPAE sent in detailed objections (these included Fauns Green and Hakoyanagi in Queens Hill Rise and 4 & 6 Bagshot Rd, Sunninghill).
We also gave evidence at three Informal Hearings (demolition of Ascot Place, Windsor Rd; removal of fencing at Birch House, Monks Walk; replacement of Calleva Cottage, St Mary's Rd with apartments).
The outcome of these applications and appeals shows that the greatest threat to the character of this area now comes from various Government planning guidelines, designed to increase the country's housing stock, particularly one which sets a higher density of dwellings than has previously been applied locally.
It is now increasingly difficult to secure the refusal of applications, as the Royal Borough knows that appeals have a good chance of success under the national guidelines, and the Borough would then be liable for costs. SPAE continues to oppose all inappropriate development.
Team Leader: Stewart McDougall
Phone: 01344 621 797
This parish, which takes in a substantial part of North Ascot and is an area dominated by Green Belt, comes under Bracknell Forest Council. This authority has also rejected many applications only to see their decisions overturned on Appeal because of national policies. SPAE is particularly concerned about the area around Fernbank Road, London Road and Kings Ride in Ascot. Until five years ago these areas had seen steady development, but the new planning guidelines brought a dramatic increase in the number of applications for apartment blocks.
The increased density of these apartments has resulted in the character of the area beginning to change from largely rural to more urban. The increase in dwellings is having a negative impact on the availability of local services, and SPAE has backed local residents who are becoming more vocal in their opposition to the scale and speed of development. SPAE is active in the drafting of a new Local Development Plan and seeks to limit the impact of further out-of-character developments in the area.