The East & South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss two planning applications. One application concerns the change of use of a Grade II* listed building in New Denham and the other concerns the demolition of a dwelling and the erection of four detached dwellings in Gerrards Cross.

Demolition of dwelling and erection of four detached dwellings

The committee will be provided with a report concerning an application for the demolition of the existing dwelling at The White House, Lower Road, Gerrards Cross, SL9 8LG and the erection of four detached dwellings.

The applicant, Rosewood Luxury Developments Ltd, previously submitted an application, ref. PL/24/1061/FA, for the erection of six dwellings on the site, which was refused. According to the report pack, that application was refused because it:

would have resulted in a much denser form of development than was typical of the locality and failed to be sympathetic to the existing character of the area. It was also refused on that grounds that a planning obligation to secure the necessary contribution towards the Burnham Beeches mitigation strategy.

The current application differs from the previously refused scheme by reducing the number of dwellings from six to four, achieved by changing the two buildings at the front of the site from two pairs of semi-detached dwellings to two single detached dwellings. The applicant has also agreed to complete a planning obligation to secure a contribution towards the Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation (SAC) mitigation strategy¹.

The planning officer's report recommends that the committee defer and delegate the application to the Director of Planning and Environment to grant planning permission, subject to conditions and the satisfactory completion of a planning obligation to secure financial contributions towards the Burnham Beeches mitigation strategy. If the planning obligation cannot be completed, the officer recommends that planning permission be refused.

The report pack notes that Councillors Bracken and Broom called in this application for determination by the South/East Area Planning Committee. Councillor Bracken's reason for call-in was that the development of this scale is out of keeping with other properties in the area and would have a negative impact on properties on South Park Drive. Councillor Broom requested the application be called in to consider the impact on neighbours, the character of the proposed development and the environmental impact of increasing the built footprint, particularly in relation to flood risk.

The report pack includes an appropriate assessment² which concludes that without mitigation measures, the development is likely to have a significant effect upon the integrity of the Burnham Beeches SAC. To mitigate such impacts, the applicant has agreed to enter into a planning obligation to secure a financial contribution to the Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS).

The report pack states that Natural England supports the SAMMS, considering it robust and capable of mitigating the likely significant effects of the proposal.

Change of use from restaurant to residential flats

The committee will be presented with a report regarding an application concerning Xcard Ltd, 2 Oxford Road, New Denham, Denham, UB9 4DQ. The application seeks permission for a change of use from a restaurant (Class E³) to two residential flats (Class C3⁴) in a Grade II* listed building, with internal alterations and the replacement of an external door with a window.

The planning officer's report recommends that the committee grant conditional permission for the application.

The report pack notes that Councillors Bracken, Broom and Chhokar called in this application for determination by the South and East Buckinghamshire Planning Committee. The report pack also acknowledges that representation has been received from Denham Parish Council confirming their support for call in.

The report pack states that [former] Councillor Guy Hollis called in the application because he thought that the pre-application report raised issues that might best be scrutinised by a call in to planning committee as this is a G2 listed asset, including:

1. viability of restaurant,
2. heritage issues re any internal works,
3. adequate drainage,
4. adequate parking (hard to accommodate as places outside nearly always full).

The report pack notes that the application site falls within National Flood Zone 2 and 3, an Archaeological Site, Colne Valley Park, Uxbridge Lock Conservation Area and is adjacent to the Green Belt.

The report pack states that the Council's Heritage Officer reviewed the submitted information and acknowledges that the proposal would result in a change of use, however they also acknowledge that, the proposal would bring the ground floor into a residential use which would provide an incentive to ensure the ground floor of the listed building is maintained and conserved in the long run, by being a more suitable viable use in this location.