To receive an update from Ian Motuel, Planning Policy Manager, on the consultation process for the Southwest Maidenhead Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Ian Motuel, Planning Policy Manager, introduced himself and stated that the Borough Local Plan (BLP), which was adopted in February, included a number of allocations and place-making areas. The area of Southwest Maidenhead included an allocation for housing (AL13), which included Maidenhead Golf Club. A supplementary planning document (SPD) for Southwest Maidenhead had recently been consulted on and contained guidance to expand on the policy contained within the BLP.

Site AL13 would deliver 2,600 homes, 30% of which would be affordable. Half of these would be houses with the other half being flats. The BLP contained a policy which required 30% of homes to be built to M4(2) standard under the Building Regulations 2010, which set out accessibility requirements and 5% to be compliant with M4(3) standard. This site would also contain schools, local centres, green infrastructure, and transport improvements. The site would come forward in phases over the next decade subject to planning permission, with two neighbourhoods being built. Throughout the site would be a ‘green spine’ to provide connectivity between the town centre and the housing development. Site AL14 would provide industrial space and warehousing for employment.

The draft document would be brought to Cabinet with a target date of December 2022.

The Vice-Chairman asked about traffic pollution on the site given its close proximity to major roads such as the A404(M) and the M4, and any mitigations that were being put into place to address concerns.

Ian Motuel stated that traffic pollution was a particular concern which was addressed within the SPD. Pollution would need to be mitigated at the planning application stage. The development would be built over many years with developers addressing these issues.

Dominic Manley asked for information on the approval process of Maidenhead Golf Course.

Ian Motuel stated that Maidenhead Golf Course would stay on the site until the end of 2025. The planning inspector for the BLP was satisfied with the arrangement that other areas of the site could come forward for development earlier than 2025. Ian Motuel could not see any legal reason why the Golf Course couldn’t be developed on when the lease expired.

The Chairman asked how many access points there were to the new site, and if there were any proposals to increase safety on Harvest Hill Road.

Ian Motuel confirmed that the main access points to the site would be via Harvest Hill Road, with the original access point to the Golf Club from Shoppenhangers Road being retained. Access points would be a matter for planning applications, with several access points being anticipated. With regards to Harvest Hill Road, a number of proposals to increase safety were being considered, one of which was the proposal of a dedicated pedestrian route.

Councillor Brar asked about the impact on Desborough College, located on Shoppenhangers Road.

Ian Motuel stated that he wasn’t aware of any intention to move or impact any current schools. There were plans to create a primary and secondary school, with a primary school being created first due to the demand and a secondary school following later.

Sharon Bunce asked if rental properties included within the site would be privately rented or social housing.

Ian Motuel stated that the current proposal within the BLP was at least 45% social rent, 35% affordable rent and 20% intermediate tenure. This was not a fixed target and higher numbers of social rent would be preferred.