To consider the above report

Members received an update on the work to regenerate Maidenhead, making it a town for everyone.

Councillor Rankin explained that whilst the report did not require any decision, the aim was to articulate the overall vision for Maidenhead and what, how and when the desired objectives would be achieved. With the council’s commitment to the Green Belt and the need to deliver 13,528 dwellings over the period of the new Local Plan, it was essential that high quality, high density development in urban areas was achieved. With the borough’s land holdings and the arrival of Crossrail in 2019, the council had the unique opportunity to regenerate the town, build the needed homes, rejuvenate the town centre, build great schools and provide great public places and iconic buildings that would be instantly recognisable as Maidenhead in the future.

Members noted the achievements so far:

·         The Stafferton Way Link Road was completed in December 2015

·         Stage 1 of the Waterways project was complete, with stages 2a and 2b scheduled for completion by Spring 2017, bringing water to the town centre to reflect Maidenhead’s riverside setting

·         Chapel Arches Phase 1 and 2 would be complete in the autumn of 2016

·         Refurbishment of the Nicholson’s centre was underway, with H&M arriving earlier in the year.

·         Maersk and Blackberry had been successfully attracted into the town

·         A range of public realm improvements in the town centre including paving, subways and lighting.

Councillor Rankin explained that in the emerging Local Plan and the following Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document the borough would define the infrastructure, schools, health, community uses needed to support housing growth and the strategy to ensure affordable housing provision. To achieve this and more the council expected to be directly investing around £138.5m alongside private sector investment:

·         £70m in schools

·         £30m in sport and leisure

·         £30m in improving infrastructure including new car parking and improved roads

·         £3m in cultural and community facilities

·         35.5m in the Waterways project

Members noted further details of what the investment would deliver, as detailed in paragraph 2.13 of the report. It was estimated that total investment within the Maidenhead town centre and golf club site was likely to significantly exceed £1bn.

Members noted that a competitive process was underway to select a development partner for the various opportunity areas. The council would maintain a stake in the development to ensure significant control over delivery of the vision for the town. A number of assets would be converted to income producing assets to fund services across the borough. To aid transparency all assets would be held in the borough’s trading company. There would be further opportunities for detailed review of proposals through the overview and scrutiny and planning processes.

Councillor Burbage commented that the timetable was ambitious; he wished all well in getting to completion. He had every confidence the programme would be delivered.

Councillor Kellaway commented that when the Area Action Plan (AAP) was published in 2011 the local press was very negative, yet it was clear that much was now happening all over the town. He paid huge credit to Richard davenport of the waterways project. The Thames Valley LEP had also helped with funding. The Town Centre Manager also put in a lot of work to bring events to the town.

Councillor Walters commented that regeneration in the 1960s and 1970s had ruined the town. The council needed to ensure that quality and ambience were paramount.

Councillor Ilyas asked on which sites had consultation been carried out, which required consultation, and what was the likely timetable.

Councillor Werner commented that the problem was that the public had seen so many plans for the town centre; it was delivery that was important. He congratulated the Waterways team who had done a splendid job. It was even more important that the impact of offices were taken into consideration through the plan, given no CIL would be paid. Car parks would be key but they were not mentioned. The key would be getting transport routes into the town right. He would welcome an update on the Landing project.

Councillor D. Wilson commented that Maidenhead was a fantastic place, strategically located for Heathrow, the motorway and Crossrail and therefore councillors should talk up the investment opportunities. Maersk and Blackberry had already decided to relocate to the town from London. Increased workers in the town would use the facilities of the town centre during the day and in the evening and weekends. Increased footfall was positive for the town.

Councillor Dudley commented that 80% of new housing would be built in and around the town as part of the Local Plan; it was important to focus on building a town for everyone. It would also be important to give people the opportunity of owning their own home. The council would use its property assets for the benefit of the town. The council would ensure the Landing scheme would come to fruition.

Councillor Saunders commented that the compelling vision for Maidenhead presented in the paper offered a clear signal for a change in pace for the rejuvenation of Maidenhead. The AAP offered a powerful framework for the vision and through various Member hands, including Councillors Burbage, Kellaway, Love and himself for a spell, and now Councillors Rankin and D. Evans, the vision was now maturing into reality. Three significant development areas had been added to those in the AAP: St Clouds Way, Reform Road and the Golf Club and had extended the site south of Stafferton Way.  Aspirations for some 750 new homes now stood at near 4,000. Some £1.5 billion pounds of development was a very big deal and it was great to see it coming to fruition.  There were huge challenges ahead, which was why the council was seeking to partner with the best in the development industry to deliver.

Councillor Saunders commented that the property cycle defied some of the brightest minds in the City; what worked was confidence and clarity in the concepts and quality for delivery and the passion of the people to drive the delivery.  The land and property assets of the Borough owned by residents would generate significant benefits for residents, not only financially but also in the quality, pride and confidence in Maidenhead re-emerging as the Jewel of the Thames. As Cabinet Member for Finance, he was clear the council had a huge opportunity to share the development opportunities available in Maidenhead and he assured Members that it would.

Councillor Sharma commented that he recalled some two years ago that Councillor Werner had commented that the Waterways project was just wasting time. The project had now materialised; Chapel Arches too. He asked the Lead Member to explain how an entertainment facility would be possible in Maidenhead.

Councillor Werner stated that Councillor Sharma’s comments were incorrect; he had never said that the Waterways project was a waste of time and would not happen. He requested that Councillor Sharma apologise for the accusation or withdraw the comments.

Councillor Bateson commented that the Waterways project would make Maidenhead different from any other town. Councillor E. Wilson commented that the paper was fantastic for the entire borough. A strong, prosperous Maidenhead would benefit the whole borough. He looked forward to a similar paper on Windsor and the surrounding areas. The proposals would unlock the value in Maidenhead, not simply for the sake of it, but to enable the council to build schools and communities.

Councillor Rankin confirmed that West Street and York Road had both been consulted upon. All sites, whether strategic or planning, would be consulted upon in full. He would write to Councillor Ilyas with full details. In relation to car parks, he highlighted that a report on the proposed strategy would be brought to Cabinet in the autumn. There had been a staggering level of interest in the Joint Venture launched in July 2016. He understood that with the scale and complexity of the proposals there would be concerns, but he assured Members that the project was in a good place going forward. Detailed proposals, for example on the golf club site, would come forward in time.

It was proposed by Councillor Rankin, seconded by Councillor Burbage and:

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Council:

i.    Notes the development work underway to regenerate Maidenhead to make it a town for everyone.

(Councillors Hill and Hunt left the room for the duration of the discussion and voting on the item)

Councillor Hill returned to the meeting at 8.25pm