A GRADE II listed estate has put forward plans to convert a manor into a 130+ room hotel and wedding venue.
This is just one of the many applications submitted to local authorities in Slough, Windsor, and Maidenhead in the past seven days.
To view more details for each application, go to the respective council’s planning portal with the reference number attached.
A developer’s second stab at extending an apartment block was given the go-ahead at Farnburn Avenue, Slough (Y/01014/021).
Euroreach Ltd had its scheme to create two additional storeys over the existing three-storey block of flats at Chancellor House approved by planning officers.
It was asking permission under prior approval, which effectively bypasses the full planning process to speed up development if the council does not object.
With this extension, it aims to create an additional six apartments, compromising one two-bedroom, and five one-beds. There are currently 12 apartments.
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It also proposes an additional six cycle storage spaces and proposes a total of 24 car parking spaces.
Previous extension plans to create eight apartments were refused after officers believed it will overlook neighbouring properties.
But the developer reduced the extension in volume as well as the number of flats to ease concerns.
Grade II listed estate could become a hotel at Ditton Park Road, Datchet, Slough (23/01062/FULL).
The owners of Ditton Manor have officially put forward plans to convert a number of buildings into a hotel, bar, restaurant, spa, meeting rooms, and a wedding venue.
The proposal includes converting the west side of Manor House into a 33-bed hotel and an extension with a bar, restaurant, gym, and meeting rooms and build a two-storey hotel block adjacent to the Manor House to facilitate the remaining 99 rooms.
Meanwhile, it plans to turn the Eastern Gatehouse into a storage facility and security hut and make internal reconfiguration to the 20th century Northern Gatehouse to facilitate a spa, as well as add a wedding venue and meeting conferences at the Southern Gatehouse.
It also plans to relocate the scout hut, which is used by the 1st Datchet Sea Scout Group, to the north of the site away from the car park.
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It also wants to refurbish the chapel to facilitate the weddings.
Speaking of car parking, the site has 198 spaces that compromise nine disabled bays and 48 electric charge points. 16 Sheffield cycle stands that hold a total of 32 bicycles are also included.
The estate owners say they have to change tactics as the site was mainly used for 8-hour conferences but has seen small demand ever since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The planning statement reads: “The result of the pandemic and changing work styles has increased the demand for 24-hour conferencing which is not currently possible at the site as there are no bedroom facilities.
“To meet this demand, significant refurbishment and additional development is required to provide a product geared to market demand; hotel bedrooms, leisure facilities, restaurant and bar, conferencing, and weddings.”
Planning officers are yet to decide on the application.
Strong objections see five homes plan withdrawn at 33 Cannon Court Road, Maidenhead (21/02330/FUL).
Applicant King Charles Homes withdrew its scheme to build two three-bed semi-detached homes and three two-bed terraced dwellings with two car parking spaces each and private gardens.
This would have required the demolition of the existing residential dwelling.
The scheme was originally lodged on July 26, 2021, and since then saw a wave of objections from nearby residents. They were concerned this could result in overdevelopment, would put a strain and a ‘danger’ on the local road network, and will have a negative impact on wildlife and biodiversity.
One local wrote: “The proposed developments will undoubtedly adversely impact Cannon Court Road’s inhabitants and users of our road.”
Those concerns were echoed by Furze Platt councillor Catherine Del Campo (Lib Dem), who ‘called in’ the application to be determined by the Maidenhead development management panel if officers were minded to approve the scheme.
However, the applicant decided to withdraw its scheme without outlining a reason why.
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