Last year a planning application to demolish five bungalows in Great Tattenhams and replace them with four blocks of flats was declined by the Council following a sizeable number of objections by local residents.
The proposed development would comprise 19 x one, 16 x two and 4 x three-bedroomed flats (a total of 39 dwellings) and associated parking. The developer’s original proposal was for as many as 50 units.
Although the Council declined the application, the developer has now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, a government department that reviews such cases and can decide to overrule the local authority.The Council declined the application for five reasons.
- On the basis of the “significant height, width, depth and bulk – cramped layout – spacing to the boundaries – limited landscaping”, finding the application an incongruous and crampedoverdevelopment and harmful to the character of the area.
- Dominant, obtrusive and overbearing, and disturbance to No. 21 Great Tattenhams.
- Surface water flood risks.
- Inadequate mix of property types – only flats.
- No contribution to social housing provision.
Local Councillor Nick Harrison has written to the Inspectorate to support the Council’s objections. He has amplified on objection 1, pointing out that the three-storey properties are totally out of character with the surrounding single-story bungalows. The developer had used the neighbouring block of flats on the corner or Great Tattenhams and Chapel Way to overcome this objection.


However Councillor Harrison explained that these had replaced the old Methodist Church, and should not be a precedent. Councillor Harrison also amplified objection 3, concerning the possible flood risk in the area. Residents will be aware that a number of properties in Great Tattenhams have experienced serious flooding in recent years and the developers have not provided a cast iron solution to the possibility of more severe flooding resulting from this development.
This appeal is currently going through and we will notify you of the outcome