A BUCKS prison could erect over 40 prison cells and a church-like building is set to be erected on top of a ruined church.
These are just two of the many applications submitted to Buckinghamshire Council for determination in the past seven days.
To view more details for each application, go to the council’s planning portal with the reference number attached.
Fourteen flats plan given the green light at 66-68 Chapel Street, Marlow (23/05424/PNPCR).
Developer BMR London Ltd’s plans, which involve converting an office block into studio apartments and one one-bedroom unit, was given the go-ahead by planning officers.
It submitted the scheme under prior approval, which effectively bypasses the planning process to speed up development if the council did not object.
It proposed retaining the 11 car parking spaces as well as adding 14 cycle bays.
But the increased vehicular movements would become a “danger” next to the pedestrian crossing, nearby residents have said, who were also concerned about the lack of parking as well.
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One local, who said they were not against the change of use in principle, said the site should have 21 parking spaces instead of 11 to accommodate all the future occupiers.
They wrote: “I genuinely hope that the vacant (boarded up) offices can be put to a good alternative use but it is essential that the present change of use proposal be refused pending a more sensitive redesign to significantly reduce the number of studios so as to be proportionate to the available parking.”
A prison could erect more cells at HM Prison Grendon, Springhill Road, Grendon Underwood (23/01151/APP).
The Ministry of Justice is seeking to add 41 singular prison cells at HMP Springhill, which itself includes the grade II listed Grendon Hall.
The new provision is split into three two-storey blocks. It also proposes ancillary facilities, such as storage, self-cook/food prep, and a communal dining and living space.
The Algeco modular units are 6215mm x 2625mm each in plan and 3000mm tall, though these units will be ‘double stacked’ to make a 6000mm tall overall structure.
READ MORE: HMP Springhill launches planning application for new prison cells
If approved, the project will be delivered by developer Wates.
The nature of the site means that there is no need for any additional parking facility to be associated with the project.
The planning statement states there is a loss of an existing prison accommodation block at the site and there is a significant increase nationally in demand for prison places, meaning a replacement facility is ‘pressing’.
Plans to build on top of a ruined church site re-approved at The Square, Akeley (22/03452/APP).
The applicant was given permission again to build a small pavilion-like church building that will sit on the location of the former chancel in the Akeley Burial Ground.
A similar scheme was approved in April 2020 but was not implemented within the three-year deadline applicants have.
Some minor amendments were approved in this plan, such as introducing two pairs of double entrance doors with an external gathering area.
The building, when built, will be used by the local church community and for up to 40 people that want to gather for remembrance and internments in the graveyard.
The ruined church was at the site from 1855 to 1980 and was taken down due to a ‘number of issues’. The site has been a church yard since then, with the remains of the footprint of the former church still visible.
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