Councillors push back decision on £500million Nicholsons redevelopment

Royal Borough councillors have pushed back a decision on the £500million Nicholsons Centre redevelopment after questions were raised about parking and retail space.

Councillors met last night (Thursday) to discuss the revised plans to demolish the shopping centre and replace it with flats, offices and shops.

But members of an extraordinary development management committee did not feel they had enough information to answer questions on key aspects of the plan and voted to defer a decision.

One councillor acknowledged the redevelopment was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ but added it was ‘not a reason to rush it through’.

Areli first applied to demolish and replace the Nicholsons Centre with shops, flats, a new car park and public spaces back in 2020 and in 2021, it secured permission.

The scheme faced delays over rising building costs and legal challenges to compulsory purchase orders.

Altered plans were then submitted in April this year, with 856 residential units proposed, along with a smaller car park, less office space, and a reduction in the height of the tallest building.

Will Robinson, head of development at Areli, said this meeting was a ‘key milestone’ in delivering ‘a newly revitalised’ town centre.

He told councillors: “We are 100 per cent committed to delivery of this key project creating a vibrant town centre for the entire community.

“The [first] scheme is indeed one of the most environmentally sustainable projects in the borough and this [altered] application is even more sustainable.”

He added a consultation was carried out in February where 90 per cent of the attendees either supported or were neutral to the plans whilst only 10 per cent were against. 

Officers backed the plans and said the proposals would ‘enhance the townscape’ and ‘contribute significantly’ to the borough’s five-year housing plan.

But speaking at the Town Hall meeting, objectors challenged councillors to think of ‘our tortured and suffering planet’ and the £500million needed for the plans.

Resident Andrew Hill said: “We need a town centre for everyone not just the rich. The whole high street is at risk. It’s delivering absolutely no affordable housing and a laughable 1.5 per cent profit.

“I beg [councillors] to consider the Maiden-hell of a Maiden-hole in the ground where a town centre used to be that never gets rebuilt.”

Graham Owens objected to the plans on behalf of ECO Action and the Climate Emergency Coalition and said demolishing the shopping centre and redeveloping the area is ‘environmentally irresponsible’.

Mr Owens said: “The elephant in the room, it’s the money. Five hundred million pounds was not found three years ago because investors decided that this was the wrong project.

“It remains the wrong project for this place at this time.

“For the sake of the tortured and suffering planet that our grandchildren will inherit, the comfort and safety of Maidenhead … please have the courage wisdom and indeed common sense to reject this non-viable application.”

Councillors raised their own concerns around parking, retail spaces and the need for a fire evacuation plan.

A new condition was added to ensure no part of the development will be occupied before a car parking allocation and management plan for the multi-storey car park is submitted.

But councillor Helen Taylor (Ind, Oldfield) said she ‘quite concerned’ about this condition and wanted to know if this will be enforced.

Cllr Taylor said: “I’ve also got concerns about the lack of public toilets. To not have public toilets seems bizarre. To have public open space and no public facilities just seems a bit ridiculous to be fair.”

Officers reassured members that adding public toilets was a ‘reasonable amendment’ through an additional condition for the plans.

Cllr Jack Douglas (Lib Dem, St Mary’s) was also ‘suddenly struck’ by the ‘significant’ reduction in retail space from 18,800m2 to 8,361m2.

Cllr Douglas said: “I’m not sure if I’ve got enough information to make a decision in front of me today.” 

Councillor Helen Taylor was also ‘not comfortable’ making a decision on the major application.

Cllr Taylor said: “This is a huge project. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We’re already at the point where we are late bringing this through. That’s not a reason to rush it through.”

Two motions were put forward to either defer the decision or refuse the application altogether.

Members decided to defer the decision until further information is provided around car parking, retail spaces and a fire evacuation plan.