South Bucks planning round-up: Giggling Squid makeover

Here are the latest planning applications, pending and decided, in South Bucks - including Marlow, Bourne End, Iver, Stoke Poges. See more by entering reference numbers into publicaccess.buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Approved: Works have been agreed at the Giggling Squid Thai restaurant in West Street, Marlow – a grade-II listed building – painting it green.

The restaurant, located at numbers 24–26 West Street, has operated from the site since 2013.

Most significant of the changes is at the front of the building, which will be repainted from white to pale green as part of a broader Giggling Squid rebranding.

Planning documents note that several buildings in this listed terrace already have decorated frontages.

The latest approvals also allow the restaurant to update its branding by replacing three signs: a lit sign above the frontage, a hanging sign, and a new menu box.

These changes do not alter how the building is used, nor do they affect its overall floor space, scale or internal layout.

Because the property is grade-II listed, listed building consent was also required.

The building is two storeys high and dates back to the 16th or 17th century, although its frontage was rebuilt in the 19th century.

The front of the building is made of brick that has been painted or coated with a thin wash of colour, with a tiled roof. It has a modern shopfront at ground-floor level.

Behind the façade, the original timber-framed structure survives, including areas of wattle and daub construction.

Permission for this was sought across three planning applications: PL/25/3836/AV; PL/25/3835/FA; and PL/25/3834/HB.

Approved: Three new flats will be created at the rear of a mixed-use building in Marlow High Street.

The permission allows three flats to be built behind number 22 High Street, which currently has a ground-floor retail unit facing onto the town’s main shopping street, with residential accommodation already in place at first-floor level at the front.

Two flats already exist at the front of the building above the shop, following earlier conversion works. The newly approved homes will be located to the rear of the site and will extend across both ground and first-floor levels.

The scheme has been approved as a car-free development, meaning no on-site parking spaces will be provided for the new flats.

The site is at number 22 High Street in Marlow, and the works will add further residential use to the rear of the existing building while retaining the shopfront at street level.

PL/25/4296/FA

Approved: Permission in principle has been granted to replace a house with two detached homes at Spring Cottage in Stoke Wood, Stoke Poges.

The site measures about 0.49 hectares and is on the edge of an established residential area near Stoke Poges.

The existing bungalow dates from 1951 and sits within a small cluster of homes on the western side of Stoke Wood.

Although the site lies within the greenbelt, planners said that the scheme would amount to limited infilling between existing houses and would not cause significant harm to openness. The land is also classed as previously developed.

The proposal allows the demolition of the existing chalet-style bungalow and garage and the construction of no more or less than two houses.

The decision establishes that the site is suitable in principle for residential development. It does not approve detailed plans.

Matters such as layout, design, access and drainage will be dealt with later through a separate technical details application.

PL/25/4282/PIP

Notified: BT has notified the council of plans to install new fixed-line broadband equipment, namely three 10m medium utility poles at The Parkway in Iver.

These are wooden poles used to carry telecommunications such as phone or broadband lines.

The telecoms company is allowed to carry out certain types of infrastructure work without applying for full planning permission, as long as it follows set conditions.

The notice explains that the equipment is needed to help build and maintain the broadband network.

Because it falls under the Electronic Communications Code and permitted development rules, the council is not being asked to approve or refuse the proposal.

The installation is expected to involve fixed-line broadband apparatus such as cabinets or related equipment, which are commonly used to support faster and more reliable internet connections.

The works are still subject to restrictions designed to limit their impact on the surrounding area.

PL/26/00021/TELN

Notified:

BT has notified the council of plans to install a new wooden broadband pole near Marina Way in Iver.

The proposal is to install one light wooden pole measuring about nine metres high near number 12 Marina Way. The pole would be used to support fixed-line broadband equipment as part of BT’s network.

PL/26/00020/TELN 

Notified: Telecoms company Cornerstone has notified the council of plans to upgrade mobile phone equipment at an existing mast in Station Road, Taplow.

The proposal involves replacing three existing antennas and installing two additional small dish antennas.

The mast is already in place, and the works would upgrade equipment used to provide mobile phone coverage.

PL/25/4975/TELN.

Notified: A telecoms company has notified the council of plans to upgrade equipment at an existing site at Iver Flowerland in Norwood Lane, Iver Heath.

The parish council raised no formal objection – but noted that the site lies within the greenbelt and said it felt the information provided was inadequate.

The council has recorded the notification as decided, with a response issued rather than a formal planning decision.

PL/25/4222/TELN

Notified: Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has notified the council of plans to replace an electricity pole within Kingcup Meadow and Oldhouse Wood, off Southlands Road in Iver.

The proposal involves replacing one existing wooden electricity pole that supports 11,000-volt overhead power lines, along with installing two associated stays to support the pole.

The area is designated as a site of special scientific interest and also sits within the greenbelt. The parish council flagged this – but otherwise made no comment.

Works are planned between April 1 and July 31.

PL/25/3974/TELN

Notified: Telecoms company Openreach has notified the council of plans to install new fixed-line broadband equipment at Sefton Park School in School Lane, Stoke Poges.

The works involve installing around five metres of new underground ducting and about 115 metres of external fibre-optic cabling to connect new broadband infrastructure at the school.

The equipment would link existing network points to a communications cabinet on the school site.

Because the building is listed, the notice also refers to additional regulations covering listed buildings and asks the council to advise whether listed building consent is required for the works.

The council has 28 days to respond with any reasonable conditions it wants Openreach to consider as part of the installation.

PL/25/2483/TELN

Notified: A power company has notified the council of plans to replace an existing electricity substation with a larger-capacity one on land off Stoney Lane in Burnham.

PL/25/3604/TELN

Pending: A proposal has been submitted to put a small electricity substation on land off Blind Lane in Bourne End.

PL/26/00047/UA