The two church halls on Cricklade Avenue are set to be demolished to make way for an imposing block of flats (9 residences) that will remove our views of the Grade II Listed St Margaret the Queen Church, and take away the opportunity for the future redevelopment of the space for community purposes.

The site has been the subject of a number of planning applications in the past. The reasons for refusal summarised below, include but are not limited to:

Development by virtue of its siting, bulk, and design fails to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and harm the setting of the Grade II Listed St Margaret the Queen Church. 
The Development results in loss of social and community floorspace which is safeguarded to meet the needs of local residents. 
Development fails to provide an acceptable level of amenity for future occupiers in respect of daylight, sunlight, and overshadowing, and as such the proposals would create a sub-standard level of accommodation and a poor living environment for future occupants

The new plans do not address years-old concerns about the redevelopment of the space. Examples include:

In the new plans, Daylight, Sunlight, and Overshadowing assessments are below the recommended British Standard for Daylighting in Buildings.
The development is not of an appropriate size, height, and massing, and restricts views. While a ‘centre court’ between the two new builds would be created to reveal views of the north transept of the church from Cricklade Avenue, the bulkiness and height of the buildings will block important views of the Church from east and west for many neighbours. The small size of the proposed centre court will benefit a very limited number of adjacent houses, who will now have 9 residences looking on to their homes. This has a negative impact on all of the surrounding houses, who enjoy the history and character of the Leigham Court Estate Conservation Area.