Slough planning round-up: Bid to turn former community hall into children’s nursery refused

These are the latest planning applications for Slough Borough Council.

Refused: Proposals to turn a former community hall into a children’s nursery and day centre were turned down.

The building in Burlington Road was owned by the council until 2023 and was used as the Serena Memorial Hall and as a homeless shelter.

ART @ Rooshika, the applicant’s agent, submitted a set of plans to Slough Borough Council, looking to turn it into a nursery and day centre for children.

A design and access statement submitted as part of the application said the site has historically attracted anti-social behaviour, but this will be addressed through the change of use.

The proposed nursery would have included a reception and waiting area for parents, play and learning rooms, a kitchen and staff area, an external play area and parking.

The design and access statement said the nursery will operate with ‘minimal disruption’ to local traffic.

But objections were lodged against the plans, raising ‘significant safeguarding concerns’ because the proposed nursery is close to Slough Hostel.

One objection said: “The proposed nursery shares a car park and [is in] close proximity with Slough Hostel, which accommodates individuals with a wide range of complex and high-risk backgrounds.

“We do not always know what the background of the residents is before they move into the service, but they will often have a history that increases the risks of challenging behaviours.”

Ultimately, Slough Council refused the plans because the application failed to show enough parking would be provided and ‘insufficient’ information was submitted to show the community hall is no longer needed for ‘community purposes’.

To view the full plans, insert P/02038/007 into the slough.gov.uk

Refused: Slough Borough Council has refused a bid to turn a residential home into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) despite it already being used as one.

The applicant, Marin Garabagiu, was seeking retrospective approval to use a two-storey house in Lower Cippenham Lane as an HMO.

This is a type of property rented out by at least three people who are not from the same household (eg, not a family) but who share facilities like a kitchen, bathroom, or living room.

The seven-bedroom house is already being used as an HMO and operates ‘without detriment’ to the surrounding area, according to the application documents.

It purportedly has a valid HMO licence – but an HMO licence and planning permission are two separate legal regimes, and the HMO does not have the correct planning permission.

This is what the applicant seeks to correct, and the process is called ‘regularising’ the HMO.

But a string of objections were submitted, saying the property has been used unlawfully for several years, causing ‘parking chaos, congestion, and safety risks’.

One objection said: “This is a family street. The use of the entire property, including the outbuilding, as a commercial-style HMO is totally out of character and unacceptable.”

It added that there is ‘frequent disturbance’ from the property, with waste building up and the bins not being managed as well as sewage and drainage issues.

Slough Borough Council ultimately refused the application and said the HMO has an ‘unacceptable impact’ on nearby properties, failing to provide the minimum parking needed on site.

Planning officers added that two of the rooms provide ‘poor and cramped’ living conditions, which are below nationally described space standards.

To view the full plans, insert P/20857/000 into slough.gov.uk

Approved: A tanning salon could be turned into a unit offering financial services after Slough council approved the plans.

The four-storey building at 1 Prudential Buildings in William Street currently has a vacant tanning salon on the ground floor, with residential units above.

Equistates Investments Ltd, the applicant, submitted a change of use application to the council, to turn the tanning salon into a unit for financial services.

A planning officer’s report said: “It does not appear that the proposed use for financial services (or similar) would generate any adverse noise over and above the existing use of the site.

“It is not considered that there would be any material impacts to the residential properties located at first-floor level and above as a result of the proposals.”

To view the full plans, insert P/01502/003 into slough.gov.uk