LOCALS will be saying ‘goodbye’ to the Magnet leisure centre later this year as it will soon be demolished for apartments.
Last year, the ruling Conservatives sitting on the Maidenhead development management panel approved developer Countryside’s major scheme to replace the closed down centre with 434 flats despite the design being labelled a “prison village.”
The buildings will range from four to 11-storeys in height and will hold a mix of mix one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. 87 of those homes will be affordable – split into 33 affordable rent and 54 shared ownership.
Speaking at an overview and scrutiny meeting, RBWM property company’s director Ian Brazier-Dub gave an update to councillors on when the Magnet leisure centre could be demolished.
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He said Countryside and the council are having ‘advanced’ negotiations on the developer providing funds to upgrade infrastructure and community facilities as well as the provision of affordable homes.
The head of planning could grant planning consent by early May where development on the site could start in late May or early June.
Meanwhile, developer HUB is steaming away to build 429 flats and shops at the Landing site between Queen Street and Broadway, Maidenhead.
However, the remaining shops on Queen Street, including the Portugal Shop, have not yet been demolished, requiring the buildings to be subject to a compulsory purchase order, which forces property owners to sell up if their property obstructs a regeneration project.
Speaking at the meeting on Tuesday, April 12, Mr Brazier-Dub said: “The CPO and the final documents to arrange for those properties to be transferred to the developer are onward going and that process should conclude in June this year.
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“It’s basically the last leg of the final development play for the development site. At the moment, they started at the northern end of the site and as they work back through the site, it will actually deliver on that basis.
“So, they’ll be able to take those buildings into hoarding then they end up being cleared as part of the whole overall development.
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