Proposals fleshed out
Application for centre
A ‘temporary community centre’ application has been lodged in connection with the 413-home plan at Sawyers Close in Windsor.
Housing provider Abri Group was granted planning permission in December to demolish four eight-storey blocks of flats and build nine blocks of up to eight storeys, plus seven rows of townhouses.
Also included is a community space, a cycle hub with 654 cycle storage spaces and 365 car parking spaces.
In last week’s public notices, Abri gave initial notice that it intends to demolish four housing blocks.
Plans were also submitted for a 94sqm community space to replace the existing community space – but only temporarily.
This serves a dual purpose. It will be used for the activities that would have previously been held in the Pump Room that support cost of living needs, health, wellbeing and community empowerment.
Its uses include free adult clothes swaps, community fridge pop ups, an employment and support hub, coffee afternoons, community courses and parent support groups.
Going forward, these would be complemented with drop-ins and ‘activities around the engagement for customers and the wider community.’
The space is also to be a part working area for Abri colleagues on site, so customers can pop in if they have any questions during the regeneration project.
Abri is starting to prepare the area ahead of the major works starting.
The first part of this is to demolish some garages and the Pump Room.
The Pump Room, a converted garage space, has been used by Abri for its customer and community activities.
The reason for the demolition, Abri says, is that it needs to relocate the play area, as the current one is situated on its starting point for construction.
Abri will ultimately deliver the permanent community space referenced in the main planning application (23/01090/ FULL).
In total, it will provide 363sqm of permanent community space – equivalent to the total floor areas of four three-bed homes.
Danielle Lane, Abri community development officer said: “The work happening at Sawyers Close is a perfect example of our commitment to investing in communities and helping them to thrive.
“It’s so important for us to make sure that the community here has a place to meet and that families with young children have a place to play.
“Although there will be changes on the site over time, customers will have access to the resources they’re used to and I’m very much looking forward to continuing my work in the heart of this vibrant and diverse community.”
Permission for the temporary community centre is sought for a period of eight years.
Councillor Helen Price (tBfI, Clewer & Dedworth East) said: “I am pleased to see more good news coming out of the Sawyers Close development and am happy to see Abri making good on its commitment to engage with and provide for the community throughout the entire course of the redevelopment of the area.
“The council remains committed to working with our partners to address the local housing challenge residents face, and as ward councillor for the area I personally look forward to seeing the project progress and look forward to working with my colleagues and those at Abri to make sure all the commitments to the local community are met.”