OVER 3,000 homes across five major housing sites were approved in 2022 which will soon change the face of Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead, and Ascot.
Councillors sitting on the Slough planning committee, the Windsor and Ascot development management panel, and the Maidenhead development management panel agreed on some game-changing applications this year.
Whilst some have been approved in full and are implementing their plans, others are still waiting to sign off their legal obligations or are yet to submit further planning applications for the development to go ahead in full.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has chosen the most interesting and biggest schemes that were approved by the relevant committees this year.
Within the five developments chosen, 3,100 homes in total were approved – with new retail and commercial units, public open space, and tower blocks.
To view each application, visit either Slough Borough Council or the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s planning portal with the respective planning code marked out within the brackets.
701 homes at Horlicks Factory site, Slough (P/00094/068).
Slough councillors gave their blessing for phase two of developer Berkeley Homes, which includes 534 homes in the private sector and 167 affordable units, to go-ahead.
The developer is already converting the old Horlicks Factory into flats and have built apartment blocks adjacent to the historic building as part of phase one, which saw 576 homes erected, taking the total housing number to nearly 1,300.
READ MORE: "Colossal" 701 homes plan at Slough's Horlicks Factory site approved
The housing mix of phase two compromises 254 one-beds, 398 two-beds, and five three-bedroom apartments. It also includes 20 three-bed terraced houses and 24 three-bed duplexes.
The buildings will range from three to fourteen-storeys in height. The site will also have ground floor commercial units, new green spaces, an east-west pedestrian and cycle route, 251 car parking spaces, cycle parking for all residents, and electric charging points.
230 homes at the former Heatherwood Hospital site, Ascot (21/02792/REM).
The 1920s hospital is set to be demolished soon after councillors sitting on the Windsor and Ascot development management panel approved developer Taylor Wimpey’s plans.
The aptly named ‘Heatherwood Royal’ estate will see 14 one-beds, 69 two-beds, and 40 three-bedroom flats – which range from three to five-storeys – and three two-beds, 88 three-beds, and 16 four-bedroom homes built – none of which are affordable.
Taylor Wimpey announced it completed the purchase of the former hospital in London Road – with the first homes due to be released early next year.
READ MORE: Ascot: 230 homes plan at old Heatherwood hospital site approved
A new £100m Heatherwood Hospital officially opened earlier this year just opposite the old site with state-of-the-art facilities and technology to provide a range of services, such as Orthopaedics and Plastics.
The site will also have a parking provision of 368 spaces, 45 of which will have electric vehicle charging points, 432 cycle spaces, and incorporates new landscaping, grassed patches, and public open spaces.
Up to 1,600 flats and new shops at Slough’s Queensmere shopping centre (P/19689/000).
Dubbed “the biggest development in Slough,” the plans that will radically change the outdated town centre took one step closer to fruition.
Developer British Land had its outline plans agreed upon in principle by Slough councillor and will be submitting further applications to redevelop the 1970s Queensmere shopping.
It plans to knock down the shopping centre, Dukes House, Wellington House, and parts of the High Street to redevelop the site, which could take 13 years to complete.
Up to 1,600 flats, 12,000sqm for retail and leisure, 40,000sqm of office space, a new town square, 685 car parking spaces – including a multi-storey car park, 4.7 acres of public open space, new green routes and connections, and potential space for live music or small cinema could all be seen within the town centre in the years to come.
READ MORE: Major Slough shopping centre revamp plans close to reality
The height of the buildings will start from six-storeys and will gradually step up to 12-storeys as you further move into the revamped town centre. The highest buildings will be in the centre, reaching 19-storeys.
Some parts of the shopping are partially closed, which is impacting stores like Sports Direct, and the Empire Cinema has shut down to facilitate the development.
The plans will make the shopping centre “smaller,” but it will be more “revitalised” that will have more leisure facilities and an improved environment.
434 flats are being developed at the former Magnet Leisure Centre in Maidenhead (21/00502/FULL ).
Developer Countryside’s plans to redevelop the hoarded off centre in Holmanleaze were approved in December 2021, but demolition works have just begun.
Despite the controversy, being labelled a “prison village,” and a 1,700 signed petition, the Conservatives sitting on the Maidenhead development management panel approved the scheme.
The scheme, known as St Cloud Way, is a joint venture between the council and Countryside. It will see 349 market homes and 87 affordable homes built – split into 33 affordable rent and 54 shared ownership.
READ MORE: Maidenhead: 434 flats plan at former Magnet leisure centre approved
Five buildings will be erected, ranging from four to 11-storeys in height, and will hold a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom homes.
It will also have 346 car parking spaces, 22 will be disabled bays and 20 per cent will have EV charging points. Five parking spaces will be reserved for the users of the adjacent Mosque.
Outline plans for 135 homes approved in West Windsor (22/00934/OUT ).
After 15 years in the making, developer Wates had its outline plans to build 135 homes north of the A308, adjacent to The Hatch, take one step towards fruition after a majority of councillors sitting on the Windsor and Ascot development management gave the nod.
The council was only considering and agreeing in principle to the site’s access at this stage where a final application will be submitted at a later date.
READ MORE: 135 Windsor homes will cause "serious gridlock" on A308
The greenbelt site north and south of the A308 is earmarked for 450 homes. Wates’ second plans for 320 homes, a special educational needs school, a community centre, and open space on land south of the A308 will go to the committee at a later date.
The 135 homes plan also includes 40 per cent affordable homes and five per cent custom and self-build. It also includes public open space and allotments.
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