Slough estates news Houses and flats
Apr 3, 2007 16:46:31 GMT 1
Post by Admin (Annette Andria) on Apr 3, 2007 16:46:31 GMT 1
Council gives go-ahead to 729 homes in town
An artist’s impression of the housing scheme on Farnborough Business Park, the former RAE factory site
An artist’s impression of the housing scheme on Farnborough Business Park, the former RAE factory site
by David Lindsell
TWO huge multi-million pound developments which will build hundreds of homes near Farnborough town centre have been given the green light.
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Residents living next to the sites have spoken of their disappointment and fears of cramped homes that will spill traffic into their streets.
Redrow Homes was given the go-ahead by Rushmoor Borough Council’s planning committee to build 404 apartments and 72 houses at the former RAE factory.
The homes will be built around historic buildings including a Grade I listed transonic wind tunnel.
At Concept House in Farnborough Road, Fairview Homes succeeded in its second attempt to demolish the former Royal Mail offices and build 253 flats and houses.
Rushmoor Borough Council chief executive Andrew Lloyd welcomed the decision.
“The Redrow development is a major step forward in the regeneration of the former Royal Aircraft factory site,” he said. “If you take the residential development — some of which is regenerated old buildings and some new — together with the rest of improvements to historic buildings it is really going to open up the site.”
Mr Lloyd praised the Concept House development as well designed and well thought through.
“It is an office building which is looking tired,” he said. “It will bring more people to the town centre right next to the station as well. It is really good when sites like the former factory site, which was shut away from people, get a new life.”
By contrast, Empress ward councillor David Clifford was disappointed the two developments had been allowed.
“On Wednesday we gave the go-ahead for almost 650 flats. It’s not Farnborough any more. It’s Flat-borough,” he said.
“The key problem with all of them is that the government is intent on making sure we have high density housing in the south which is leading to a reduction in the quality of life.
“Will they sell? Yes they will, as people are desperate to get flats.”
The original Concept House scheme was put on hold at the beginning of March, when councillors decided there were too many bicycle racks and not enough car parking spaces.
Fairview New Homes came back with a revised number of spaces — up to 219 spaces for the 253 homes.
Cllr Clifford believed there were not enough spaces because people preferred cars to bikes.
“We have got to get over the fact, and environmentalists have got to get over the fact, that you are not going to get rid of the car,” he said. “People love their car. Just because they like their cars does not make them bad people.
“Having this silly rule that you can have less than one parking space in a town centre is ridiculous. We are sowing problems for the future.”
Cllr Clifford argued that Redrow was wrong to set aside 30% of the homes for social housing.
“The more social housing there is, the more expensive the other part is,” he said. “Why does social housing always have to be high density? We should be creating nice places to live.
“The only winners are the developers that are making money out of it and the estate agents and the people selling extortionate mortgages.”
Near both sites residents objected in their scores.
In Pinehurst Cottages, Chris Norris, 33, a self-employed pilot living with wife Tristine, 31, a graphic designer in Farnham, organised a 113-strong petition.
“The effect will be quite major,” he said. “We are going to have big problems of flats overlooking our properties.
“The application has quite few parking spaces so any overflow will use our streets. We are considering the prospect of selling now and getting out while we can.
“We expected the council to defend the area. We believe there was a strong basis. We are going to end up with a lot of horribly designed buildings in Farnborough.”
Shirley Glass, 70, has lived in Pinehurst Cottages for around 12 years and was a former cleaner in the factory.
“We are not very happy about it but if they are going to do it what can we do?” she said. “We thought the petition would have an effect.
“I would have liked to see fewer flats. What we do want is somewhere for the children to play.”
An artist’s impression of the housing scheme on Farnborough Business Park, the former RAE factory site
An artist’s impression of the housing scheme on Farnborough Business Park, the former RAE factory site
by David Lindsell
TWO huge multi-million pound developments which will build hundreds of homes near Farnborough town centre have been given the green light.
Advertisementyour story continues below
Residents living next to the sites have spoken of their disappointment and fears of cramped homes that will spill traffic into their streets.
Redrow Homes was given the go-ahead by Rushmoor Borough Council’s planning committee to build 404 apartments and 72 houses at the former RAE factory.
The homes will be built around historic buildings including a Grade I listed transonic wind tunnel.
At Concept House in Farnborough Road, Fairview Homes succeeded in its second attempt to demolish the former Royal Mail offices and build 253 flats and houses.
Rushmoor Borough Council chief executive Andrew Lloyd welcomed the decision.
“The Redrow development is a major step forward in the regeneration of the former Royal Aircraft factory site,” he said. “If you take the residential development — some of which is regenerated old buildings and some new — together with the rest of improvements to historic buildings it is really going to open up the site.”
Mr Lloyd praised the Concept House development as well designed and well thought through.
“It is an office building which is looking tired,” he said. “It will bring more people to the town centre right next to the station as well. It is really good when sites like the former factory site, which was shut away from people, get a new life.”
By contrast, Empress ward councillor David Clifford was disappointed the two developments had been allowed.
“On Wednesday we gave the go-ahead for almost 650 flats. It’s not Farnborough any more. It’s Flat-borough,” he said.
“The key problem with all of them is that the government is intent on making sure we have high density housing in the south which is leading to a reduction in the quality of life.
“Will they sell? Yes they will, as people are desperate to get flats.”
The original Concept House scheme was put on hold at the beginning of March, when councillors decided there were too many bicycle racks and not enough car parking spaces.
Fairview New Homes came back with a revised number of spaces — up to 219 spaces for the 253 homes.
Cllr Clifford believed there were not enough spaces because people preferred cars to bikes.
“We have got to get over the fact, and environmentalists have got to get over the fact, that you are not going to get rid of the car,” he said. “People love their car. Just because they like their cars does not make them bad people.
“Having this silly rule that you can have less than one parking space in a town centre is ridiculous. We are sowing problems for the future.”
Cllr Clifford argued that Redrow was wrong to set aside 30% of the homes for social housing.
“The more social housing there is, the more expensive the other part is,” he said. “Why does social housing always have to be high density? We should be creating nice places to live.
“The only winners are the developers that are making money out of it and the estate agents and the people selling extortionate mortgages.”
Near both sites residents objected in their scores.
In Pinehurst Cottages, Chris Norris, 33, a self-employed pilot living with wife Tristine, 31, a graphic designer in Farnham, organised a 113-strong petition.
“The effect will be quite major,” he said. “We are going to have big problems of flats overlooking our properties.
“The application has quite few parking spaces so any overflow will use our streets. We are considering the prospect of selling now and getting out while we can.
“We expected the council to defend the area. We believe there was a strong basis. We are going to end up with a lot of horribly designed buildings in Farnborough.”
Shirley Glass, 70, has lived in Pinehurst Cottages for around 12 years and was a former cleaner in the factory.
“We are not very happy about it but if they are going to do it what can we do?” she said. “We thought the petition would have an effect.
“I would have liked to see fewer flats. What we do want is somewhere for the children to play.”