News

Cheers as "monstrous" Woodley flats refused

By Laura Herbert
October 26, 2012

An illegal block of flats could be knocked down after councillors voted against the ‘monstrous development’.

Campaigners cheered as Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee decided against a planning officer’s recommendation to allow the development in Brecon Road to remain.

Coronation ward Councillor Keith Baker had asked the committee to consider the application because he felt the flats are not in line with the borough’s design guide and are out of character with the area, lead to loss of light for neighbours, overlook neighbouring homes and are excessive massing.

The developer was given permission to build the block of four flats behind a row of shops in 2007, but the building was not completed until January this year, when neighbours discovered it was bigger than the original plans.

In March, a planning inspector upheld an enforcement notice for the demolition of the building, but the developer submitted a larger retrospective application, which was refused last Wednesday.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Ray Duncan, mayor of Woodley Town Council, said: “I would recommend a site visit to give a view of this truly atrocious development. It is a monstrous development.

“The impact on neighbours is severe – it is out of keeping with the neighbourhood and there has been a loss of amenity land.

“The parking issues are far worse than indicated. There may be five or six spaces but there are regularly around eight cars parked there.”

Neighbour Andy Stokes, of Glendevon Road, said: “The main problem for us is the loss of light. We live with this day in, day out.

“I have to look at that every day. No room at the back of my house is unaffected by this.

“I would ask this committee to demolish this building completely.”

Councillor Bob Pitts, committee member, said: “When I visited today it looked significantly larger than neighbouring properties.”

Cllr Lindsay Ferris asked planning officers to look at the ground level now and in the original planning application.

He said: “To me, it looks about 3ft higher than it should be if it was built on level ground. It is almost like a church sitting there.”

Cllr Pitts put forward a motion to refuse the application on the grounds of its increased scale, its proximity to neighbouring homes and that it was overbearing, which was carried by six votes to two.

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Most recent user comments 11 of 11

Thus in your view Racing Snake if someone builds a house in your back garden without planning or your permission once someone is living in it a compromise should be met to let them stay.

No, if planning permission if broken the situation must be corrected. Retrospective permission should only be given in exceptional circumstances.

PoneRana, Wokingham
28/10/2012 at 11:28

Are these flats currently occupied?? if so, it is unfair to tell the residence they have to move ouet because the builder did something wrong.

There must be a happy compromise somewhere, but with the resentment from locals, I don't expect one will be found.

The Racing Snake
27/10/2012 at 16:20

These flats are so intrusive to the surrounding houses it's untrue, I believe the builder of these flats also owns the flats above the shops adjacent , it would have made more sense if the council got him to renovate those flats as they are in a terrible condition,

Sean Hill
26/10/2012 at 22:03

Let the block of flats remain. Why waste time effort and money on something that is already there. According to some there's a bit of a housing shortage. And as for monstrocities / carbunckels, there are already many throughout this land of ours, just ask Prince Charles and one more that's already built isn't going to do much more harm. As for the neigbours - just sue the owner / builder - get some compensation or move or do both !!

OakTree
26/10/2012 at 17:16

Totally concur with PoneRana on both points.

Big P, Reading
26/10/2012 at 15:00

Good work Get Reading. Now, how about a photo that shows it in relation to the surrounding properties?

Bigboy, woodley
26/10/2012 at 14:22

I would like to echo the comments of Damiano_Tommassi - If they didn't seek permission, the developers deserve this.

I P Freely
26/10/2012 at 14:21

Yep, true; built without permission, forced to pull it down. Well done, WBC.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
26/10/2012 at 13:59

I welcome the local council voting against retrospective planning permission. This should happen more frequently even in circumstances where permission might have been granted had it been properly applied for.

We criticize the council frequently on this site. This time praise should be given where it is due.