Badnells Pit Appeal 2008 - Outcome

The application received by the Borough for the development, known as St Mary's Park, Blackamoor Lane was refused at a special meeting of the Planning Panel on 21st April 2008.

Following a public inquiry in October 2008, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government overturned the Council's decision and granted planning permission for the development of the site once remediation has taken place. The Secretary's decision and the Inspectors report on which it is based are available to be downloaded below.

Cllr Alison Knight, lead member for planning and development, said the government's decision was a blow to the Borough and to everyone who lives in the vicinity of the proposed development.

She said: "The council put every effort into the fight against this proposal, which is ludicrously big for the site and pays scant regard to the needs of the local community. We are deeply dismayed and disappointed by the inspector's decision, which goes against the wishes of local people. It fails to take into account the solid planning arguments put forward by the council, by residents and by other public bodies who have grave concerns about the implications for the community and local infrastructure."

Cllr Derek Wilson, chairman of Maidenhead development control (DC) panel said: "The planning application was originally rejected by Maidenhead DC panel in April last year when we made it clear we did not object to some new housing on the site. However, we believed the scale, height and density of the Shanly proposal would be a severe overdevelopment and we raised serious concerns about the adverse impact on local roads.

"We also expressed concern that, as a result of the costs involved in the remediation of the site, the developer had not proposed much-needed affordable housing nor the full level of Section 106 contributions necessary to meet the increased infrastructure needs of the community if the development went ahead.

"There were serious planning issues that we believed were a bar to the development going ahead as set out in the application.

"It is a great pity for everyone in the local community that the government has overruled our decision."

The details of the original application may be viewed on the Planning Public Access module by using the link at the right of the page, selecting an application search and entering the application ID: 07/01239. Documents relevant to the application are dated after18th February 2008. In addition to the documents supplied, a number of tables relating to traffic movement studies were submitted. These are viewable on the developers website or may be inspected at the Customer Service Centre at Maidenhead Town Hall.

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