Plans approved for hundreds of flats at Magnet
Leisure site to be redeveloped despite ‘prison village’ concerns
The former Magnet Leisure Centre site in Maidenhead will be redeveloped into hundreds of new homes – despite a councillor likening the proposals to a ‘prison village’, writes Kieran Bell.
Members of the planning panel met last week to discuss the plans put forward by developer Countryside, which wants to construct 434 homes in Saint Cloud Way, mostly made up of one and two-bedroom flats.
Planning officers had recommended that councillors authorise the head of planning to approve the proposals, with a series of conditions attached.
These include £263,872 towards community facilities and £833,000 for a new pedestrian crossing over the A4.
This recommendation narrowly passed as the five Conservative panel members sided with officers.
Plans for the Holmanleaze site have not been short on controversy, most notably from nearby Maidenhead Mosque.
Secretary Sajid Khan told the meeting: “[Holmanleaze] is heavily used by its residents and community groups, such as for Friday prayers and evening education classes.”
Mr Khan added: “Imagine pickup and drop-off of 350 to 300 children between the hours of 4pm and 7pm, down a narrow road, with the addition of other residents who will reside in the new development.”
Mr Khan’s other concerns centred on the height of the proposed development in relation to the mosque.
“We appreciate Countryside updating the plans to reduce [Block C] from eight storeys to seven storeys. However we strongly believe that this is still overpowering,” he said.
Applicant Malcolm Wood, representing Countryside, said that the developers had been on a long engagement journey.
He said: “The provision of 434 homes in a highly sustainable town centre location making best use of this allocated brownfield site reduces the pressure away from greenbelt land.”
But ward councillor Gurch Singh (Lib Dem, St Mary’s) told councillors the development resembled an ‘uncomfortable ghetto’.
He also raised concerns over the amount of affordable housing proposed (20 per cent) – 10 per cent short of the borough’s policy.
Fellow ward councillor Donna Stimson (Con) also objected, saying she was ‘upset’ the flats included gas boilers.
Panel members raised fears over the visual look of the buildings, while the level of sunlight within the new apartments was also questioned.
Cllr Geoff Hill (TBF, Oldfield) said: “Looking out of our window [in the Town Hall] we have got a scheme similar in nature [Countryside’s Watermark development] and it is being referred to as the ‘prison blocks’.
“If I look at this scheme, the design is virtually identical. It looks a bit like a prison village.”
Planning officer Adrian Waite told members he ‘struggled’ hearing members describe the plans in such a way, adding the buildings would look ‘attractive’ when built.
A motion to refuse the application was put forward but this fell 5-4.
A second one to side with officers was brought by Cllr John Bowden (Con, Eton and Castle) and Cllr Greg Jones (Con, Riverside). This passed 5-4.