THE controversial Maidenhead golf course site will see less housing built following objections from concerned residents.
Property developer Cala Homes has updated its plans to build hundreds of homes on the 132-acre site, named the Elizabeth Quarter, in Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead.
The borough local plan, which earmarks multiple sites for thousands of homes to meet the Royal Borough’s future economic and population growth, set aside the golf course for up to 2,000 homes to campaigners’ dismay who want that specific site to be a great park.
In a joint venture with the Royal Borough, Cala Homes were originally proposing to build up to 2,000 homes but after its first round of public consultation in December, it decided to reduce the number of homes by 200.
Charles Raikes, senior land manager at Cala Homes, said: “There’s been a 10 per cent reduction and this has been taken onboard by feedback received where we can enhance create more buffer zones around the development, especially around the existing properties near the golf course.”
According to Mr Raikes, 973 homes to the north of the site – close to the railway station – are mainly apartments with some homes. At least 50 per cent of the 827 homes to the south of the site will be family homes.
He also said a third of the site will be open space and will be creating a 42-acre central park, which is proposed to be called Rushington Park, near the ancient woodland Rushington Copse for the public to enjoy.
Rushington Park could be put into a trust for the community or organisations to manage that piece of land and the ancient woodland.
READ MORE: First look at 2,000 homes plan at Maidenhead golf course
Pocket parks across the site are also proposed and Cala Homes has changed the access from Harvest Hill Road that leads into one of the pocket parks in order to keep a veteran tree.
Cala Homes is still proposing 30 per cent affordable homes, which is broken down to 243 social rent, 189 affordable rent, and 108 shared ownership.
The planners also said work is ongoing with the council’s children’s department on proposals to build a primary and a secondary school as well as a nursery. Talks are also ongoing with NHS on plans to build a GP surgery.
Mr Raikes said Cala Homes met up with the Maidenhead Great Park campaign group in December to hear their views on the proposal and to alleviate any concerns they have.
He said: “We are hoping to have future meetings with them ongoing from the one in December. The meeting in December was good and we brought along our consultants, ecologists, and tree consultants to answer their questions directly, which we felt was a good meeting.”
READ MORE: Maidenhead residents can have another say on Cala's 2,000 homes plan
An outline planning application, which asks the council if it agrees with the development in principle before detailed plans are submitted, will be submitted this Spring.
Andy Aldridge, land director at Cala Homes, said they are conducting their second and last consultation on the updated plans on Saturday, February 25, before it is submitted.
However, he added if there are any substantive changes to the scheme, they will look to re-consult again.
When asked if the number of homes could be reduced even further, Mr Aldridge replied: “We are not necessarily looking to reduce the number of houses even further but that will come through the consultation and we will see where we are once we have that consultee feedback.”
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