Plans for Maidenhead town centre were approved unanimously at last night’s RB Windsor and Maidenhead’s Development Management Panel meeting. At a time when High Streets are in crisis and in need of Government support, these ambitious plans will see £500 million of investment in Maidenhead, building a new town centre designed in partnership with the local community. Nicholson’s Quarter is proposed on the site of a failing single storey 60s shopping centre, the Nicholson’s Centre; the scheme is widely viewed as one of the UK’s first shopping centre to town centre conversions.

The mixed-use project will deliver circa 660 new homes, workspace for over 2,000 thousand people, 60 shops and unique restaurants. ‘Sir Nicholas Winton Square’ will also be created named by local residents in honour of Sir Nicholas’ act of bravery during the Second World War. In total, there will be 1.5 acres of public space, equivalent to 24 tennis courts. After conducting one of the largest public consultations the Borough has ever seen, the scheme brings much needed housing to the town centre, along with senior living accommodation and smaller retail units with flexible leases. Reflecting the climate emergency, the project is one of the most sustainable proposed in the Borough and includes considerable bicycle spaces, electric vehicle charging points and an extensive tree planting programme. Responding to strong demand for ‘out of London’ urban locations, new homes have been designed to support home working with larger rooms, business centre amenities and private open spaces.

Frederic Jariel, Co-Head of Real Estate at Tikehau Capital, said: “We are very pleased to see the transformational application for the Nicholson Quarter be approved last night and thank the officers and Councillors for their support.”

Rob Tincknell, Partner at Areli Real Estate, said:

“This is a great result, not just for Maidenhead but for the entire UK as it demonstrates a way forward for the regeneration of our towns. We are so pleased to have developed these plans in close cooperation with the community and to have achieved such a positive unanimous vote is really encouraging.”