New 122,000 sq ft Oxford warehouse scheme recommended for approval

A warehouse scheme for eight units totalling 122,000 sq ft goes before Oxford City councillors on Wednesday (August 3). The development, submitted by Savills on behalf of Plumbing Pensions UK, involves demolition of the former Royal Mail sorting office and vehicle maintenance depot and building of the eight modern warehouses in five buildings. The development is on land in at 7000 Alec Issigonis Way, at Oxford Business Park, part of the old Cowley Motor Works, and includes 14,000 sq ft of

University of Reading scheme for 1,880 homes at Didcot gets go-ahead

A development of up to 1,880 homes, three schools, sports pitches, neighbourhood centre and a host of other facilities in Didcot has been approved by councillors in South Oxfordshire. The planning application by Croudace Homes and the University of Reading on the university’s land to the north east of the town, was approved unanimously by South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, July 27. The three schools account for two primaries and a secondary school and the

Arora plans new hotel for Heathrow

The Arora Group was won planning permission for a 298 bedroom hotel at Heathrow with direct access to the Queen’s Terminal, Terminal 2. The development brings the number of hotel rooms Arora has in the Heathrow pipeline to over 1,000. Two hotels - a Crowne Plaza and a Holiday Inn Express – are already planned for development by the group, to connect to Terminal 4. Surinder Arora, founder and chairman of the Arora Group said: “The people at the Arora Group are experts in this kind of

Slough set for another 100 flats

Plans for 100 flats in central Slough go before councillors on Wednesday, August 3, with a recommendation for approval. Howsen Ltd has applied to build the development at 26-40 Stoke Road in two blocks, one of seven storeys which steps down to four and one of five which steps down to three. The development on the site of a derelict car showroom, 300m from the station, will have 72 two-bedroom and 28 one bedroom flats. There will be 15 for social rent but no other affordable units. It will

Taylor Wimpey beats objections for 85 homes in Woking

A plan for up to 85 homes in Woking has been passed by councillors despite more than 65 objections. Taylor Wimpey won permission for the development on land north of Beldam Bridge Road, in the West End parish, at Surrey Heath’s planning applications committee on July 21. But there were individual objections from 65 people, many complaining of pressures on Holy Trinity School, congestion and possible flood risks plus representations bodies including the school itself and West End Parish Council

Basingstoke consults over new CIL charges

People in the Basingstoke borough are being invited to give their views on council plans to bring in the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is planning to introduce the CIL to help fund infrastructure, including transport improvements, schools and community, sport and recreation facilities and wants to hear views on its charging plans in a round of consultation from Monday, August 8 to Monday, September 26. At present the council only receives developer

Three councils threaten legal action over Heathrow expansion

Three council leaders in London have written to transport secretary Chris Grayling to threaten legal action if Heathrow expansion is approved. The Leaders of Richmond, Hillingdon and Wandsworth Councils wrote the letter after reports the long awaited decision on aviation capacity could be made in early September. Cllr Ray Puddifoot, (Hillingdon), Cllr Lord Nicholas True (Richmond) and Cllr Ravi Govindia (Wandsworth) argued that Gatwick should be expanded. Two weeks ago Mayor of London Sadiq

Work on Farnborough exhibition centre to start in September

Work is expected to start within weeks on the new exhibition and conference centre at Farnborough International Airport. A new planning application has been submitted with some design tweaks but developer ADS Group hopes it will fly through through the planning process. As reported on tvproperty.co.uk, the latest plans for a vast exhibition, conference and media centre were unveiled in May and now the planning application has been submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council. A similar application

Residents object to Nielsen house office conversion

Plans to turn an office building in Oxford into 93 flats have prompted dozens of objections. Resident near the site off London Road have been quick to respond to the planning application by Headington Developments which wants to turn Nielsen House into 30 one-bed and 63 two bed flats under permitted development laws. Around 25 complaints have been made, largely referencing flooding and increased traffic in response to the proposals. Some fear more development because land to the rear of the

Eviction threat over Newbury FC ground

Newbury FC faces being kicked out of its Faraday Road ground in a row over its lease. Landlord West Berkshire Council is seeking a court order for possession of the ground after the club refused to sign a new two year lease while the council worked on the ground’s redevelopment. The previous lease expired on June 24. Cllr James Fredrickson, executive member for external affairs, said: "It is with regret that we are seeking a court order but we have been left with no alternative after the