Planning round-up: Plans approved for new Slough Barclays with uncertain fate

Here are the latest, most significant planning applications in Slough. For more information, enter the reference numbers into Slough Borough Council's planning portal.

Slough council has approved a new ATM and shopfront at Barclays bank in Slough High Street, amid unknowns about when the branch might be opening.

Also this week, The Westgate School in Cippenham Lane looks set to demolish one of its major buildings on site after deterioration has left it ‘unsafe.’

Approved: Slough council has approved a new ATM and shopfront at Barclays bank in Slough High Street - though it is not clear when this branch will in fact open.

The building at number 192 High Street, next to the Specsavers, is five storeys high, though planning documents say that Barclays intends to only occupy one of two ground floor units.

An application was submitted to create a new branch of the bank on the High Street last year – but problems faced by its contractors threw the scheme into doubt.

Plans appeared on Slough council’s website at the end of September, but the construction company that submitted the application, ISG, then into administration.

Eight subsidiaries of ISG Group, one of the UK’s largest contractors, collapsed on September 20, nine days after the planning application was submitted.

Nonetheless, there appears to be some movement at the site. The scaffold has come down revealing new frontage, though there are no Barclays signs as yet.

However, when asked if the planned branch will be opening soon, Barclays Group declined to comment.

If it does, works involve primarily an internal fit‐out as per Barclays new concept design currently being rolled out nationwide.
It is ‘designed to update and increase the flexibility in which customers use the space.’

There are set to be secure lobbies and enclosed meeting pods around the branch.

A ‘greater control of acoustics ... enhance[s] the space for people with neurodivergent traits,’ the application says.

Proposals are intended to respect and preserve the layout of the property and conserve the overall appearance of the building within its parade of shops and local businesses.

This existing building is ‘mid‐way through strip out and alteration works by developer Jaspar Group as per planning application P/03079/022.’

This relates to permission for a three-storey roof extension and conversion of the first and second floor to provide 46 flats and two commercial units on the ground floor.

In this more recent application for the ATM/shopfront, made by ISG on behalf of Barclays, the design statement reads:

“The proposal seeks to enhance the overall appearance of the high street through the addition of this new branch.

“There will be no visual impact on close neighbours to the property or the general public at large.”

P/03079/034

Approved: The Westgate School in Cippenham Lane looks set to demolish one of its major buildings on site after deterioration has left it ‘unsafe.’

Slough council has approved the proposed demolition of the multi-use building, dance studio, gym, drama room, stage and dining hall.

Having examined key structures in the building, several experts have expressed the view that in their opinion, the damage is not fixable.

The hall is located on the main site which comprises multiple buildings of various ages and eras.

The building of concern is made up of glulam frames – several strong, arch-like structures constructed from layers of glued-together timber.

This design allows for large, open spaces inside.

An inspection of these showed signs of distress and delamination – meaning layers of the material are starting to come apart.

Several frames had multiple major delamination cracks and in some cases, ‘substantial open gaps’.

This has ‘significantly reduced their effective strength and capacity to support loadings.’

Get Carter Consulting Ltd (GCC Ltd), who prepared an inspection report, said the structures ‘cannot be confirmed as being safe to occupy’ and there is ‘a possibility of collapse.’

The site was marked as restricted access, as recommended by GCC Ltd.

A scaffold support system was installed – but these supports ‘should only be considered as temporary’ with further movement of the frames ‘to be expected.’

Given it is ‘unsafe’, in the opinion of Milner Associates, consulting engineers it was ‘the right decision to restrict access to the area and to further support the frames to prevent a sudden collapse.’

The glulam frames ‘are considered to be beyond repair,’ they added.

P/03977/029

Pending: A Slough car repair company that faced an enforcement dispute is looking for permission to keep going on its current site, with some adjustments.

A car workshop at land to the rear of 42-44 Lake Avenue was the subject of an Enforcement Notice which was upheld at appeal.

The replacement workshop was originally proposed to be used specifically for car spraying and was previously described as a spray booth.

But after the appeal decision, the applicants want permission to retain the workshop for the original use of car repairs, on the provision that the building will only be used for that and will not be used for the spraying of vehicles.

Currently, the building contains flue chimneys which measure around 4.4m and 4.8m from ground level.

In the appeal against the enforcement notice, it was noted that these ‘extend a considerable height’ above the building, as well as the other buildings on the site.

Moreover, they ‘appear at odds to the prevailing, domestic character of outbuildings in the area as they give the building a distinctly industrial appearance.’

The current planning application therefore seeks to retain the existing workshop with the removal of the chimneys.

P/05737/006