Developer Contests Council Order for Unfinished Flats Complex

An order from the council to either demolish or modify a flats complex, constructed without the requisite planning permission, is being contested by its owners. Slough Borough Council issued a demand last month for the demolition or alteration of the partially completed structure located on Wexham Road, across from the town’s Royal Mail office. Although councillors approved the 27-home development in July 2023, contrary to the recommendations of council officers, the developers, Wexham Construction, failed to execute an infrastructure agreement within the stipulated six-month period. Subsequently, in May, officers resubmitted the application to councillors, who then rejected it. This rejection signified that the development never obtained formal planning permission, despite construction work having already commenced. An enforcement notice from the council stipulated that the building must either be torn down or converted into a four-storey block comprising 18 flats, a configuration that had received planning permission in 2022. A spokesperson for the council expressed confidence in successfully defending its order before a planning inspector, who is scheduled to make a decision regarding the development’s future next year. The council’s notice was set to become effective on 7 November; however, Wexham Construction filed an appeal against it. Ramandeep Purewall, the firm’s director and a solicitor, also submitted an appeal, alongside Gian Purewall, Amrita Purewall, and Mandeep Ajula. The Local Democracy Reporting Service sought to reach Ramandeep Purewall at Aston Brooke, a solicitors firm based in Harrow where he also serves as a director, but did not receive a reply. BBC Berkshire can be found on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.