“UNACCEPTABLE harm” to a street’s character was just one of the reasons why a four-home scheme was dismissed on appeal.

Developers Churchgate Premier Homes had their plans to build on land between the rear of 156 and 158, Windsor Road, Maidenhead blocked after the planning inspector ruled in the Royal Borough’s favour.

Matthew Taylor, the applicant, wanted to erect two detached four-beds and a pair of three-bed semi-detached on the large gardens with parking, private amenity space, and new landscaping.

READ MORE: Theresa May officially opens revamped Maidenhead Station's forecourt

It was said it will “make better and more effective use of the excessive land” – but the council blocked the plans in December 2020 due to loss of privacy to neighbouring properties, overdevelopment fears, and the designs out of keeping with the area.

They also had concerns about the lack of information submitted that the two-way vehicle movements are safe coming in and out of the site

But the developers disagreed, stating: “The proposal is well designed, taking influence from more recent development along Windsor Road which has routinely been supported by the LPA [local planning authority] and now clearly contributes to the character of the local area.”

READ MORE: Slough Mosque's plans to build religious school to be decided

They also state some of the overlooking issues can be resolved with tree planting and have “addressed and overcome” the highway concerns with revised drawings.

But planning inspector Stuart Willis sided with the council, citing the backland development would “unacceptable harm” the character and appearance of the area and was “not certain” if there was sufficient space for vehicles to be able to pass both along the access and at the new junction with Windsor Road.

However, he did not believe the dismissed plans would have resulted in a loss of privacy as some overlooking between properties is “inevitable and tolerable” in residential areas and already occurs to some degree.