£500 million town centre revamp approved for Maidenhead
The 'Nicholson Quarter' will replace the Nicholson shopping centre
Last updated 4th Mar 2021
A MAJOR town centre regeneration project that will see an estimated £8.2 million generated each year for the local economy has been approved.
The new ‘Nicholson Quarter’ in Maidenhead town centre won unanimous backing during a Royal Borough Development Management Panel meeting, on Wednesday, March 3.
The landmark development is expected to deliver more than 650 new homes, 29,000 sqm of office space, six new retail zones, a multi-storey car park and a towering 25-storey building.
It will also replace the Nicholson Shopping Centre.
In addition to a £500 million investment in the town centre, the scheme is also expected to provide circa 2,700 new jobs.
Plans include 66 ground floor retail units suitable for shops, offices, restaurants and bars, takeaways and leisure facilities – and short-term leases will encourage small starter businesses.
Health centres and nurseries are also mentioned.
In addition to opening up historic streets, developer Areli Real Estate will also create the new Sir Nicholas Winton public square.
Areli won conditional permission on a hybrid (full and outline) application for a comprehensive mixed-use redevelopment of the site.
The six new zones
Zone One (outline) features a nine-story building with a six-storey element fronting north on Nicholson Lane, and a further single-storey element, and basement car park.
Zone Two (full) features retail frontages and a four-storey building facing the High Street. A two-storey portal to Sir Nicholas Winton Square and a single-storey element are also included.
Zone Three (outline) features a 10-storey building with eight-storey wings east and west.
Zone Four (full) – the multi-storey car park – will have 885 spaces over nine storeys. The ground floor will have shopmobility and blue badge spaces, and direct pedestrian access to the main shops. (More than 1,300 parking spaces are proposed overall).
Zone Five (full) features a 25-storey building fronting the Broadway, stepping down to 23 and then 10 storeys. Another 15-storey building with a 10-storey element, and a single-storey podium and private roof garden for residents of the 346 flats is included.
Zone Six (outline) – a 13-storey building stepping down to nine; a 17-storey stepping down to 11; a six-storey element and two-storey podium – providing 307 “extra care” properties.
The vacant eight-story Central House office building, and Siena Court are due for demolition. The upper floors of Nicholson House, and Brock House are to be retained.
No affordable housing will be provided, but it is subject to review.
Shopmobility and changing facilities will be replaced on Brock Street.
More than 850 bicycle bays will also be installed.
Cllr John Bowden proposed members accept the application and was seconded by Cllr David Cannon.