Maidenhead's former Magnet could be transformed into more than 400 flats

The future of Maidenhead's empty Magnet leisure centre will be decided next week, when councillors vote on plans to build over 400 new homes.

The former centre in Holmanleaze could be replaced with five buildings, ranging from four to 11-storeys, that will hold 434 flats.

These would be a mix of one, two, and three-bedrooms.

Councillors on the Maidenhead development management panel, who have been recommended to defer and delegate the plans to the head of planning, will decide next Wednesday (December 15).

The plans, known as St Clouds Way, have been met with strong opposition from residents.

A petition, which garnered over 1,700 signatures, was set up to voice locals’ disapproval of the buildings’ height and impact on the area, as well proposals to remove the overhead footbridge from Hines Meadow car park.

But planning officers believe the designs and the height of the building are acceptable.

They also believe a provision of an at-grade pedestrian and cycle crossing on the A4 will improve access across St Clouds Way.

Originally, developers Countryside Properties submitted plans for 439 apartments, 130 of which would have been shared ownership, but amended its plans in October following feedback from residents and stakeholders.

Planners have decided to bump up the original 309 market homes to 349 and decrease the number of affordable homes to 87, splitting it to 33 affordable rent and 54 shared ownerships.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s housing team objected to the scheme, saying the original plans “did not adequately meet local housing needs” and recommended a tenure split of 45 per cent social housing, 35 per cent affordable rent, and 20 per cent shared ownership.

Elsewhere in the plans, new ‘green links’ – which sees landscaping, trees, and shrubbery work – have also been proposed throughout the site between Kidwells Park, the Strand, and the Moor as well as improved connections to the town centre.

Countryside is proposing 346 car parking spaces have been proposed, 22 will be disabled bays and 20 per cent will have electric vehicle charging points.

There is a possibility more spaces could be converted to have more charging points.

Every flat could have one long-stay cycle parking space.

The developers have also proposed 16 short-stay cycle spaces.

If the scheme is deferred and delegated to the head of planning, the plans will be subject to securing the following:

£263,872 towards improvements to community facilities.
£833k towards A4 at-grade crossing
Travel Plan, including 3 on-site car club spaces
Provision of affordable housing
Improvements to the existing subway
Review mechanism of scheme viability