Developer sought for 1,000-home programme

The borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is looking for a development partner for four mixed-use sites in Maidenhead.

Totalling over 6.3ha in the heart of the town the sites have the potential to deliver 1,000 homes, as well as commercial space, a cultural quarter, leisure and entertainment facilities.

Together the sites represent the biggest release of public land in the borough for several years and the council plans to invest the income from it in improving services and facilities for residents.

The council which aims to retain “considerable control” over the sites development is aiming to appoint a partner by May 2017 with work on the new sites planned to start in 2018.

Maidenhead’s Crossrail station is due to open in 2019 and has spurred regeneration schemes across the town, including The Landing, a £250m 600,000ft2 mixed-use project by Ryger Maidenhead Ltd - a joint venture between property developers London & Aberdeen Group and Norwegian investors Smedvig. The town is also attracting new commercial occupiers with shipping company Maersk Line and Blackberry.

Leader of the council and lead member for housing Cllr Simon Dudley said: “People living, working and visiting Maidenhead will see a lot of development in the area over the next few years as we regenerate the town and Crossrail comes on line. All of these changes are set to make Maidenhead an even more attractive and exciting place to be in the future.”

The council is hosting a developer launch briefing on Thursday 14 July to showcase the four sites.

Meanwhile, Crest Nicholson has submitted a new planning application for a mixed-use development, Henley Gate, within the Ipswich Garden Suburb.

The housebuilder aims to build 1,100 new homes and a 30-hectare country park in the area, as well as a new primary school and local centre comprising community facilities and retail units.

Ipswich Garden Suburb is to cover 482-acres creating up to 3,500 new homes on 252-acres.