One Maidenhead developers respond to criticism of its impact on town centre

Developers behind a major revamp of Maidenhead town centre have defended its impact on existing businesses and the town’s skyline.

An official launch event for One Maidenhead, the 429 flat project between King Street, Queen Street and Broadway, was held on Tuesday (June 11).

The chief executive of Get Living, the group delivering the scheme along with Smedvig and Hub - acknowledged some people were ‘uncomfortable’ over changes the multimillion pound scheme posed.   

But he argued back against objections to the buildings’ height — some of which are more than ten storeys tall — saying it provided much-needed homes.

Speaking to the Advertiser at the launch event, Get Living chief executive officer Rick de Blaby said:

“We always empathise with a local community when we come in and we build a scheme like this – always empathise.

“We’re very aware that we represent change and some people are uncomfortable about that.

“But we’re long-term owners, we’re not here to build something sell it and disappear, so equally we’re aware we’ve got to – sort of – earn our place in the local civic family.”

More than 850 people could be housed at One Maidenhead.

Each home is rented accommodation, from one-bed to three-bed properties, many featuring balconies with commanding views over Maidenhead - and looking on as far as Windsor Castle.

But these are now the town’s tallest buildings and, addressing concerns over building height, Mr de Blaby said it was better to build at scale at brownfield urban sites to save greenbelt land.

Furthermore, he said bringing a ‘new neighbourhood’ into the area it would help encourage growth in the town’s economy.

“I think we’re the third most densely populated country in the world,” added Mr de Blaby.

 “And height - I’m afraid - is one of the ways you can build at scale without sprawling into the greenbelt, which people regard as even more precious.”

Get Living and fellow developers Hub recently objected to The Honeypot lap dancing club in Queen Street, claiming it was no longer appropriate for the area.

Last month, the Lib Dem-led council refused a new licence for the venue – a decision that came in for some criticism due to the fact the business was long-established in the town.

Mr de Blaby said: “On the basis the licence has been revoked, I’m afraid they probably are one of the impacted businesses in this. I’d like to hope there aren’t many others.”

He added: “I would sympathise - of course I would - being in business ourselves we know how hard it is to build something, how hard it is to sustain something.”

However, One Maidenhead is expected to provide the town with new business opportunities.

Mr de Blaby confirmed that three ‘major’ outlets would be moving into the ground floor retail units ‘hopefully by late summer or autumn’.

There are also two building plots at One Maidenhead still under development, including a TreHus wooden office building.

Get Living is a real estate investment trust (REIT), which Mr De Blaby said was mainly funded by pensions of ‘key workers’.

He said an REIT was required to redistribute 90 per cent of its profits back to pension funds and therefore renters choosing to move into One Maidenhead would then be helping sure up these pensions.

Speaking at the launch, he added: “Whenever you’re launching something new like this you’re reminded just what a testament to human endeavour these things are.

“Hundreds if not thousands of people are responsible for delivering this.

“Unfortunately, you don’t get the chance to say thank you to everybody involved on a day like this."