A development that will see new flats built at a commercial area in a commuter village in Berkshire has been welcomed.
The project involves building 12 flats in two new buildings at the Ruscombe Business Park in Twyford.
The flats will be built next to Stanlake House, which previously served as offices before being converted into flats.
The plan for the new homes was recently discussed by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee.
Benjamin Hindle, the case officer, said the flats will be built in a smoking and car parking area that has been unused since Stanlake House was converted.
The development will create one one-bed, nine two-bed and three two-bed flats, with residents making use of 22 spaces.
Welcoming the project, councillor Sam Akhtar (Conservative, Thames) said: “I think this development is a positive development.
“Looking at the fact that it’s one two, three-bed apartments, I think this is a much-needed type of development in the area. It’s a walking distance from the station, and homes are much needed in the area. So I’m for this.”
Cllr Martijn Andrea (Liberal Democrats, Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst) asked a question about affordable housing, with Mr Hindle replying that no affordable housing will be provided on site.
Instead, the developers will pay £26,065 for the provision of affordable housing elsewhere in the borough.
Mr Hindle said: “It’s quite a modest contribution to be completely transparent. Viability is very much a curse with these smaller sites, particularly on previously developed land. This costs significant sums of money to remediate, as there’s hard surfacing.
“This formally was a core employment area, in fact part of it still is, so in this respect small developers are able to use a viability mechanism to essentially rule what they can provide. It is incredibly modest, it is indeed better than nothing.”
Cllr Wayne Smith (Conservative, Thames) said: “I think we’re going to see this more and more and more.
“So we all sit here thinking we’re going to get 40 per cent affordable. I think those days are gone.”
A total of seven trees will be cut down to clear the way for the development, with two of these having tree preservation orders on them.
Ultimately, the council’s planning committee approved the project with conditions at the meeting on Wednesday, July 9.
These conditions will secure the affordable housing contribution. The developer must also submit an arboricultural method statement detailing the protection of remaining trees on site and suitable replacement trees for those cut down.
You can view the application by typing reference 241350 into the council’s planning portal.
