Pegasus Group has secured planning permission for a striking block of flats on the outskirts of Henley-on-Thames.
The five contemporary, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments across three storeys, designed by Strom Architects, will be built on the site of a former disused office building, now demolished.
Jim Bailey, a director at Pegasus Group’s Bracknell office, said: “The site lies in the Green Belt, so we had to demonstrate to Wokingham Borough Council that ‘very special circumstances’ were applicable.
“We were able to show that the volume of the proposed building would be less than the existing building, which would actually improve the openness of the Green Belt.
“In addition, we had to demonstrate that the design of the building would conserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and would not harm the setting of several nearby Listed Buildings, including the Grade 1 Henley Bridge, as well as the adjoining Regatta HQ building and the nearby Leander Club.
“The site also lies in Flood Zone 3, as it is located close to the River Thames. In order to meet the concerns of the Highway Authority, car parking will be provided on-site using a basement car stacker and turntable, so that vehicles can access onto the road in a forward gear.
“Although this was a site with many constraints, we engaged with council officers in a pro-active manner, which enabled us to to secure planning permission under delegated powers.”
All apartments have been designed to maximise the potential of the riverside location, yet avoid any overlooking that would impact negatively on neighbours. Living accommodation will be located to the road side of the building, allowing large areas of glazing to maximise river views, but also to allow plenty of natural light.
The apartments will be configured with two apartments at ground floor (one 1-bed, and one 2-bed), two 2-bed flats on first floor, and a larger 3-bed penthouse apartment on the second floor. All apartments will have external amenity space, access to secure bike storage and one parking space.
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