Barbara Richardson to update the Forum on the Maidenhead Town Centre Regeneration work.

Barbara Richardson, Managing Director, RBWM Property Company Ltd, initially provided an update from the last meeting’s minutes as follows:

·         There will still be blue badge spaces at the front of the Town Hall, as off-street parking. Barbara Richardson would pick this up with the Operations Team.

·         The Chair suggested two spaces outside the registrar office but was advised that this would all soon be constructed with new landscaping.

·         The Vice Chair informed the Forum that there were three level access spaces in the Town Hall car park when it was there and these could be reserved for members attending council meetings. These had not been replaced anywhere. The two spaces on the main road were very used. Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that the three spaces from the Town Hall car park had been replaced into the members’ car park for use by staff. Barbara Richardson would pick this up with the Operations Team to see if they could be accessed by way of reservation for visitors to the Town Hall.

ACTION: Barbara Richardson to speak with the Operations Team on two points above.

·         Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that ShopMobility car park was still going to be temporarily placed in West Street during the construction of the new car park but this was always the plan and it was only the timing that had changed.

·         Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that the northern side of Queen Street did not need to be closed for the redevelopment of The Landings. The Vice Chair said it was still closed. Barbara Richardson would check why this was closed.

·         Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that there were due to be seven social housing disabled units in a later stage of development. These would be at an affordable level and under shared ownership. There were other schemes soon coming too.

·         Barbara Richardson advised the Forum that there were to be seven social rental properties in the York Road development. However, none of these were designed to disabled access standards. Private developers did not want to produce social rented units due to the income from the tenure type not covering the cost to build them. This is why they are in short supply. However, the Prop Co is looking at putting 30% social rent on its sites, with some cross subsidy from shared ownership in order to deliver more affordable homes at this level. They would be considering disabled access units, even though this was not a planning policy requirement.

·         Barbara Richardson advised the Forum that if someone would explain as to what was required, she was happy to champion and try and provide. Some properties were coming forward that she could consider. A report was due to be presented to Cabinet in August to approve the property company business plan so could include in the mix specialist housing for adults and children.

Barbara Richardson gave the Forum an update on what was in process now. The following points were highlighted:

Town Centre

·         The council owned 50 percent of the freehold of the shopping centre, the new owners had 50 percent with an unexpired lease of 117 years from the Council. Therefore the council had some control but the ownership was complex. The council and the new owners had signed a heads of terms in order for both parties to work in partnership to deliver a new town centre.

·         Negotiations were currently taking place and a report was due to be presented to Full Council soon. A report had gone before Cabinet in July 2019. The suggestion was that the car park would be relocated on a better location as a straight swap and then the existing car park all came down and was built from scratch. The new area would include retail, office space, some residential including some retirement living. The new owners would take forward a hybrid planning application after further public consultation over the next couple of years.

·         The standalone car park would be able to accommodate the ShopMobility minibus. The timescale, if all terms agreed with the new owners would allow the council to put forward a planning application early next year. The start of phase one would be 2021 with completion expected in 2022 for the new car park.

·         There would be more car parking spaces than now once all work completed. ShopMobility would be in the new car park on the ground floor. The footprint would be similar to existing but more efficient. There would be more blue badge spaces than now but would need to check that the width and space would be more. The temporary Queen Street car park would have 40 car parking spaces which would include five blue badge bays. When the permanent car park was built, it would have 90 car parking spaces which would include 10 blue badge bays for temporary use until the scheme is completed and the parking is needed to be handed over for its residents.

Joint Venture Sites

·         York Road

o   The York Road site consists of three phases. It is only in phase one now and this is due to complete Dec 2021. Phase two will be the community centre and phase three will be the heritage site. This is still all being agreed. The location for a community centre is still being agreed.

o   The Chair asked about the external building materials that are going to be used. Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that the materials had still not been agreed. These would be on site for residents to comment on. Barbara Richardson to advise of dates. The Planning team would sign off the materials.

ACTION: Barbara Richardson to advise on the dates of when the materials would be available for residents to go and see.

·         St Clouds Way

o   A public consultation would take place in Autumn 2019. Barbara Richardson to inform Forum of the dates.

ACTION: Barbara Richardson to inform the Forum of consultation dates.

o   Discussions with the surgeries were taking place to agree whether they wanted to be a part of the site or not.  The CCG had been contacted to discuss if they wanted a health hub, but they had missed the opportunity for St Clouds Way but one could be added to the Reform Road site.

o   An underground car park would be put in at St Clouds Way. The current surgeries would have parking close by for blue badge holders.

·         West Street

o   Barbara Richardson engaging with BT to produce a better looking building.

·         Reform Road

o   This site will be visited after the St Clouds consultation.

Barbara Richardson informed the Forum about a small programme of residential development owned by the property company. This would be a mix of shared ownership and social rented accommodation. The first will be St Edmonds House, in Maidenhead. This would have sixteen apartments of one and two bedroom units, some with front door access, all would be 100% affordable.