Redevelopment of Maidenhead’s old Magnet Leisure Centre site with much-needed new homes will start this summer, with the car park set to close from Friday, 1 July following formal granting of planning permission for the new scheme.
The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead and developer Countryside formed the Royal Borough Development Partnership in 2017 to deliver residential-led high-quality regeneration of key town centre sites in Maidenhead, supporting new homes, jobs, investment, community facilities as well as the Council’s Environment and Climate Strategy.
With the York Road regeneration scheme, known as Watermark, well underway, St Cloud Way is the second and largest of these exciting projects, delivering 434 much-needed new homes in a mix of houses, apartments and maisonettes, including 87 affordable homes.
Every household will benefit from private outdoor space, through a private garden, balcony or terrace, in addition to podium gardens for residents and public realm landscaped areas. In total, over 8,500 sq m of outdoor amenity space is set to be delivered across the development.
The development aims to reduce visitors’ travel by private cars and encourage the use of sustainable non-car modes of travel through electric vehicle charging points, 455 secure cycle parking spaces and an on-site car club scheme via an operator.
The new development will improve connectivity across the site, through delivery of the new ‘Missing Links’ cycle route, improvements to the existing subway and contribution to a new pedestrian crossing that will provide safe and inclusive access into the town centre.
Over the coming weeks, people will start to notice hoardings go up once Countryside takes possession of the site as developer, with demolition of the old leisure centre scheduled to start from August.
Site clearance, including removal of the footbridge over St Cloud Way, will take about three months to complete. Construction works will start afterwards and are programmed to complete within six years, with the first phase developed within three years. Access to properties adjacent to the leisure centre car park will be maintained and alternative public car parking is available at Hines Meadow multi-storey car park.
While the leisure centre car park will close permanently, most of the Tenpin car park will remain for use by permit holders and The Wilderness Medical Centre, with access from St Cloud Way/exit onto Cookham Road being maintained. Tickets for visitors to the medical centre will be issued by its reception.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, the council leader, said: “The council in partnership with Countryside is driving forward the exciting regeneration of Maidenhead town centre, supporting new homes, jobs, investment and facilities that are benefitting the community and boosting the area’s vibrancy.
“St Cloud Way is the next exciting milestone in that much-needed work, and the closure of the car park and formal granting of planning permission herald the start of on-site redevelopment after significant planning and project development work.
“With leisure facilities now provided at our state-of-the-art Braywick Leisure Centre, St Cloud Way will help meet local housing needs for our community. I’m sure many residents look forward to seeing the tired redundant centre come down and this major new scheme taking shape behind the hoardings.
“This major investment will also support improvements benefitting the wider area, including contribution to a new ground-level pedestrian and cycle crossing over the A4 supporting access to the town centre and a Missing Links sustainable travel route through the site, alongside financial contributions including enhancements to Maidenhead Library, local play facilities and transport.”
Daniel King, Managing Director, West London & Thames Valley, Countryside, said: “We look forward to beginning the initial construction works at St Cloud Way in partnership with the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, with this milestone paving the way for our regeneration scheme that will deliver 434 high-quality new homes and revitalise this area of Maidenhead town centre.
“With our Watermark regeneration scheme on York Road coming to life with new residents and retailers, we’re looking forward to also delivering the exciting vision for this area of Maidenhead.”