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offering had been “appalling” for many years. Most discerning consumers had changed their allegiance from Maidenhead to better provided local towns.
“Equally, despite some extremely fine businesses in and around Maidenhead (often located in small industrial estates) and a nucleus of committed professionals in the town, there is no obvious business community hub.”
However, Mark Harris felt Maidenhead was now “an improving location with both commercial and residential developers focusing on upgrading the town-centre.”
Stone concurred with Egan, who said: “There is currently an air of optimism in Maidenhead, not least because of the town-centre developments that have started, Crossrail and Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRAtH). There are clearly a number of factors at play now, and one hopes that they will create a winning combination.”
Cllr Wilson said: “The latest news in town is that restaurant and café space at Chapel Arches is coming to market and several national chains have expressed interest. The heart is being revived and a waterside café culture is on its way to becoming reality.”
... with high hopes for its PRoM
In 2007, the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead set up the Partnership for the Regeneration of Maidenhead (PRoM), which in 2008 launched a comprehensive 20-year vision and Area Action Plan (AAP) for rejuvenating the town-centre – “the most exciting regeneration of Maidenhead in its history.” Ironically, recessionary inactivity provided valuable ‘thinking time’ for the PRoM planners.
PRoM’s AAP was approved and adopted in 2011. It identified six key opportunity areas (OAs) for specific regenerative development – overall, an estimated £1billion town-centre investment. There is now activity in all six OAs. “It is very encouraging that organisations, like Rotary, the Chamber, Town Partnership, Civic Society and other stakeholders are wholeheartedly behind the regeneration programme and playing their part to ensure we get the best result,” said ProM chairman Bob Dulson.
“We expected that the OAs would act as catalysts for investment in other parts of the town, and that is now happening.”
The Royal Borough and Dulson are upbeat about redevelopment progress happening today in the town-centre, with its new paving and signage.
“Partnership working and determination to achieve the town’s potential has been intrinsic to the town’s regeneration. There’s a distinct upswing in the town-centre with retail, residential and office development taking place and planned. Cranes and scaffolding tell the ongoing success story,” said Cllr Love.
“Visitors today cannot fail to see the extensive THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2016
The High Street
www.businessmag.co.uk
OA changes taking place at Chapel Arches,” said Dulson. “This is a three-phase scheme of shops, homes and offices being built around a widened and deepened York Stream which, capable of carrying small rivercraft, will bring a touch of the Thames into the town’s heart.
“Elsewhere, the townsfolk’s favourite ‘eyesore’ Berkshire House, a 1960s office block, is being refurbished as luxury serviced apartments. On the northern fringe, two striking new office blocks have recently been completed. Both have attracted tenants.”
Dean praised PRoM’s “significant improvements over the past year or so, and exciting plans for the future.” Harris was equally supportive: “These projects and other initiatives will transform the town-centre.”
“It’s possible that the six OAs will shortly become eight, providing more town-centre housing,” added Dulson.
AAP's six OAs
• Broadway Triangle (site for The Landing, a major mixed-use scheme with outline approval)
• West Street (scene of two new office blocks, an hotel and a current SPD consultation for housing)
• High Street East (site of Chapel Arches, mixed-use scheme incorporating the waterway. Under construction)
• Station Area (improvements to the station, public realm and pedestrian access to town-centre; plus major mixed- use redevelopment medium-term)
• Stafferton Way (new southern link road completed, housing scheme approved, new car park proposed)
• York Road (civic and cultural quarter – development partner being sought)
Regeneration: A decade of development ahead
Achieving the planned town-centre regeneration will be key to attracting new businesses and residents, stated Kempton, while noting: “The problem with urban regeneration is that it takes a very long time to complete.
“As the elements of the master plan come to fruition Maidenhead will meet the demands of a thriving 21st century population – introducing attractive, well-planned landscaping, improved food and beverage offerings, new homes, offices and retail.
“Maidenhead is a town of opportunity and it will become a very different and exciting place to live and work in over the course of the next decade.”
But regeneration commitment and stamina will also be required, stressed Harris: “The local authority will need to work with developers to find solutions and make sure the appropriate infrastructures are in place to support this exciting growth of the town over the next few years. Residents and businesses need to work with the local authority to drive this wave of development activity forward so Maidenhead can compete with larger surrounding towns.”
Mentioning past poor planning decisions, Ross Wilson added: “The work done by PRoM is indeed exciting, although frankly I still worry about the commitment of the local authority towards anything to do with major rejuvenation projects.” Wilson feels the needs of new businesses and their employees will tend to drive the town-centre’s future retail sector offering.
“If the planned town-centre investment of a billion pounds comes to fruition it will create a momentum all of its own,” said Stone. “With regeneration of its town-centre, Maidenhead has the opportunity to punch above its weight.
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