A verdict is due on a controversial plan to add 10 new homes to converted offices in Wokingham.
Ascot House is a former office building that was converted into 21 flats after plans to repurpose it were approved in 2021.
It is situated next to the busy Finchampstead Road, Wellington Road and Denmark Street, just south of the town centre, opposite the Carnival Hub.
The development company Klara Ascot Ltd has applied to add three storeys to the building to create eight one-bed and two two-bed flats.
The project is due to be decided by Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, November 121.
It has faced 16 objections from residents, who have raised concerns about how Ascot House will become bulky and could overlook and overshadow neighbouring properties.
The project has also faced objections from councillors Rob Comber and Chris Cook both Liberal Democrats for Wescott ward.
They pointed out that the extension for Ascot House would not have a lift, limiting its accessibility for young families, the elderly and the disabled.
Planning officer Benjamin Hindle has recommended the project for approval, subject to a series of conditions.
These include a payment of £22,781 to invest in providing affordable housing in the borough, and £612 per home to either fund MyJourney, the council’s initiative to promote active travel and public transport or a travel plan.
The car park provides a total of 38 parking spaces, along with visitor spaces and 14 electric vehicle charging spaces.
Cllr Comber had raised concerns that Ascot House would not have a suitable amount of charging spaces if the project went ahead.
However, Mr Hindle judged the parking provision to be acceptable.
His report states: “The proposal represents well-designed, sustainable, residential development that effectively reuses underutilised land and airspace within a defined major settlement which has capacity to grow.
“While there are disbenefits to the proposal, such as the perception of overlooking and the degree of overbearing to neighbours at Kendrick Close, these are not considered to significantly or demonstrably outweigh the scheme’s overall benefits.”
You can view the application by typing reference 242066 into the council’s planning portal.
Ascot House has an extensive planning history, with separate plans to convert it into 21 flats being approved in 2020 and 2021.
A further plan to convert the basement into three flats was approved in August 2021.
Additionally, a larger plan to add a four-storey extension to Ascot House to provide 19 new flats was withdrawn in March 2022.
