Fears for people in flats built without permission

Fears that families in a block of flats built without planning permission could be evicted or become homeless have been raised with a council.

Redsky Homes built the 51 homes on the site of the former Willow Tree pub in Langley, Slough, despite only getting permission for 41 in 2021.

It has now applied to Slough Borough Council for retrospective planning permission.

If the authority refuses, Redsky would have to either demolish the building or alter it to match the originally-approved plan.

More than 90 letters have been submitted to Slough Borough Council on forms branding the logo of Thorncliffe Your Shout – a PR firm that specialises in gathering support for planning applications and representing Redsky.

One comment said: "I would like to support this application because I don't want people to lose their homes due to others' mistakes."

Another said: "I would like to support this application to stop children and families becoming homeless."

The vast majority of the comments registered on the council's planning website contain brief messages all beginning with the words "I would like to support this application because".

One form read: "I would like to support this application because it would be silly to knock it down."

Fears residents face eviction is among the most common themes.

Redsky Homes and Thorncliffe declined to say why the homes were let without planning permission – or whether the developer would rehouse tenants should planning permission be refused.

A Thorncliffe spokesperson said: "Slough desperately needs new homes, and Redsky Homes are operating within the planning system to help deliver them."

Slough Borough Council said it had received "a number of representations both in support of and against" Redsky Homes' application.

It said its planning officers would consider the plans based on "planning policies and material planning policies" before making a recommendation to councillors on its planning committee who will make the decision.

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.