Developer reveals further details over Maidenhead Golf Club plans

The developer behind plans to build 2,000 homes at Maidenhead Golf Club has revealed more details about its contentious housing scheme.

CALA Homes (Chiltern) met with members of the public for the first time during two consultation events at Maidenhead Library on Thursday and Saturday.

The sprawling site near Shoppenhangers Road is being targeted for a mixture of family homes and apartments as well as a new primary and secondary school.

But protests have been ongoing in the borough to overturn the Borough Local Plan and protect the 132-acre site from development.

Representatives from CALA sat down with the Advertiser to discuss its plans for the scheme, outlining how much upheaval residents could face and how it intends to maintain biodiversity at the site.

What is the timeline for development on the Maidenhead Golf Club site?

CALA Homes is looking to submit an outline planning application for the Maidenhead Golf Club site in spring 2023.

Maidenhead Golf Club is due to surrender its lease on the site to the council in December 2025 and CALA is currently planning to start work in January 2026 if plans are approved.

But Andrew Aldridge, land director at CALA (Chiltern) said the developer is prepared to start work sooner if things change.

He said: “One of the reasons for the timing of the application is to be prepared.

“If they (Maidenhead Golf Club) do make noises and want to go early then we’ll be ready to start on site.”

The development is planned to be completed on a phase-by-phase basis which could see family homes built on the southern part of the site before work starts on apartment buildings closer to the town centre.

Andrew added: “There has been quite a large propensity of apartments at the moment in the town centre so buildings flats at this moment in time is probably not the best thing to do commercially.

“At the moment we want to focus on the southern part of the site which will be family homes but if the market changes and there is a requirement for apartments we could look at bringing in the town centre earlier and maybe have two phases of development at the same time.”

What type of housing could be built on the Maidenhead Golf Club site?

The developer said 30 per cent of new homes on the site will be classed as ‘affordable’.

Of this, 45 per cent will be available as social rent properties, 35 per cent will be classed as affordable rent and 20 per cent will be available for shared ownership.

The developer is planning to build medium-rise apartment buildings and town houses on the northern part of the site which could go up to eight storeys.

The southern part of the site near Harvest Hill Road will be primarily designated for houses.

What is going to happen to wildlife on the site if plans are approved?

Campaigners are desperate to protect the 132-acre site from development and fear the delivery of 2,000 homes could destroy ‘Maidenhead’s green lung’.

An environmental impact assessment scoping opinion recently commissioned by CALA Homes also found that the construction of thousands of homes and two schools could lead to the permanent loss of ‘woodland of high ecological value’

CALA Homes could not confirm how many trees on the site will be lost if the development goes ahead but the company is looking to replant lost trees where possible.

“Clearly we understand that while we’re not going to damage the environment, trees are going to be removed but they need to be tended to and re-planted wherever possible,” said Mr Aldridge.

“The whole idea is there will be a biodiversity net gain on the site.”

He added that protected species on the site are protected by law and the ancient woodland at Rushington Copse will be retained.

CALA Homes said it could not confirm how many trees will be lost but it is aiming to deliver a biodiversity net gain on the site

Why was the site called the Elizabeth Quarter?

The 2,000 home development on the golf club site is set to be named Elizabeth Quarter in a nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

CALA said it recognised the importance of the Queen within the Royal Borough.

Mr Aldridge added: “We’re all royalists and understand exactly how important the Queen was and still is.

“We thought it was a lovely idea to tie it into not just her in terms of the name but it’s on the Elizabeth line as well and that was really the main driver to show that connection to the Elizabeth line.”

How does CALA feel about meeting members of the public over its contentious plans?

Mr Aldridge said: “We’re clearly aware of what has been going on previously with the allocation but that is really between the borough, the law courts and the public at large.

“Now this is a development opportunity and it’s about how we interact and take on board the public’s thoughts on the site.”

He added: “We’re responsible developers. We’re a national developer, we want to do the right thing.”