‘It’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes’ if planned luxury flats on a leafy Ascot road are built, a neighbour has warned.

Plans to demolish a country house at Highveld on Coronation Road and replace it with a building of six flats were approved by Bracknell Forest Council in December.

But neighbours of nearby houses opposed the plans – including with fears that increased traffic could cause accidents on a 60 miles per hour road.

Laura Hall spoke on behalf of residents of neighbouring Badias Glade on Coronation Road at Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee on December 14.

She said: “Traffic danger is a concern. Six flats would produce 42 car movements a day – residents, deliveries and trades. 15,000 movements a year on a national speed limit road. It’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes.”

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Ms Hall also said that the new flats would “tower above” her main living area – and could pave the way for more new flats to be given approval in the future.

She said: “The rear of their flats contain the main living areas which would be towering eight and a half metres above our main living area. And don’t forget this is not one family – this is 32 people plus guests.”

She added: “If this application is approved it would set precedent for other large plots to be turned over to the same – and there are many that could.”

But speaking on behalf of the applicants, Paul Robinson said they had discussed their proposals with council planning officers, who had agreed with the principle of development.

He also said it was ‘rare’ that new flats set a precedent for others to be built – and that any future plans would also need to meet planning rules before being approved.

He said: “Fears that this will set a precedent for more flats rarely become a reality because of a lack of sites. But in our case the future proposals themselves will be judged on their own merits.”

Council highways officers examined the plans and said they wouldn’t cause any road safety problems, and that there was enough parking.

And planning officers said the flats wouldn’t overlook neighbouring homes as there was enough distance planned between them, and they wouldn’t directly face each other.

Planning officer Sarah Horwood said: “Given the relationship between the buildings, separation distances, design and the presence of trees and vegetation the proposed building would not appear unduly overbearing or result in an unacceptable overlooking to the occupiers.”

Councillors voted to approve the plans, with seven in favour and one abstaining, adding a condition to ensure that plants and trees between the flats and neighbours would be maintained.