Slough planning round-up: Plan approved to convert former NatWest unit

Here are the latest planning decisions from Slough. To see more details, enter their reference numbers into Slough Borough Council’s online planning portal.

Approved: A former High Street bank is set to be turned into retail unit and flat.

Slough Borough Council approved plans to turn part of a former bank branch in Slough High Street into a flat on August 26.

The front of the ground floor will be kept as a retail unit while the back of the space will be refurbished into a one-bedroom flat.

Previously, the site was a NatWest bank which closed in September last year.

No on-site parking is proposed but the design and access statement said residents will be encouraged to use communal transport.

But in a high street designated area, no parking is required as part of planning applications.

The statement submitted by Property with Andrew added that the size of the flat meets the national space standards.

P/00610/025

Pending: The owners of a supermarket in Villiers Road submitted plans to Slough Borough Council for an extension to the shopfront.

The proposals for a single storey front and side extension to Sabar Brothers were submitted to the council’s planning portal on August 13.

Cookham Design Partnership put forward a design and access statement on behalf of the applicant, Mr Asaf Sabar.

As part of the refurbishment, a single storey extension will be added to the shop’s ground floor.

Fresh vegetables and fruits are displayed outside the shop under a temporary canopy, but the design and access statement said ‘this is not ideal’ because the produce is exposed to different weather conditions.

If the enclosed extension is approved, the fresh produce will be moved inside the shop in a more hygienic environment.

The proposals would reduce the distance from the main road and the edge of the footpath in front of the supermarket from 4 metres to 1.5 metres.

Cookham Design Partnership said the changes would avoid ‘any harmful overlooking or privacy issues’ into nearby commercial and residential units.

P/02790/005

Approved: Plans for second floor extension to two-storey building

Slough Borough Council has given the go ahead for proposals to add another floor to a two-storey building in 29-33 Stoke Road.

Six one-bedroom flats will be added as part of the extension.

The space for the retail units that are currently on the ground floor will also be extended.

Four parking spaces will be offered for the six flats, but the design and access statement submitted by Architecture IR sets out that this is ‘reasonable’.

It said: “Given the very good public transport in the area, it is feasible that a high proportion of both employees and flat residents do not need their own cars to get around.”

The flats are within walking distance to bus stations and the railway station.

Future residents will access the flats via an entrance at the back of the building.

The work has to be carried out within three years as part of the council’s conditions.

P/04901/008