‘Generation defining opportunity falls short’

This week our council is expected to decide that a 25-storey block of flats is an appropriate landmark to have at the centre of our town.

It’s not something that the Civic Society would favour and we’ve said so.

Last week in a decision delegated to a planning officer the council determined that five blocks of flats, including one of 10-storeys with bland architectural elevations, should form the eastern gateway to our town opposite the police station.

These decisions come in the wake of The Landing development, featuring a 16-storey tower, which though long-approved has still to begin building.

And threatening to swell the numbers again this week is an application for 439 flats on the former Magnet site.

There’s no denying that we face a housing crisis nationally and locally.

But our belief is that planning should be above politics and that instead of rushing to deliver unit numbers (85 per cent in RBWM at the last count were flats) more consideration should be given to what kind of dwellings people want and where.

Meanwhile, as the scaffolding came down to reveal the elevations, the new apartments next to the town hall and the library drew a mixed reception on social media, some for but most against.

At the time of this application, the Civic Society said it was ‘a generation defining opportunity which falls short of expectations, especially in architectural style’.

Our comments, sadly, fell on deaf ears. But a council official last week, seeking to assure, said: “They’re very nice inside.” BOB DULSON

Chairman Maidenhead Civic Society