York Road

The Design Process

BRIEF PLANNING HISTORYThe site was formerly occupied by a 1960's office 'slab' buildings, demolished to become temporary car parking for the Town Hall. The site is bounded by the York Stream, a fantastic natural asset, which is undergoing a grand refurbishment project. To the North lies a Grade II listed modernist Library, and Maidenhead Town Hall. The site wasidentified by the Local Authority as an Opportunity Area suitable for forming new connections to the York Stream, and for residential-led mixed use development, set out in the Town Centre Area Action Plan (2011) and Borough Local Plan (2017).•Collaborative engagement with the local Planning Authority included eleven formal pre-application meetings - covering master-planning and place-making principles, through to focused workshops on massing, architecture, housing mix and tenure, transport and highways, and landscaping. The outline concept design and massing was also presented to Design : South East at a formal Design Review Panel. The project received Planning Approval in September 2018. •DETAILS OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONThis rejuvenation site, and the natural and built-form assets which it sits alongside represent a once in a generation opportunity - integrating a major development into the existing Town Centre. Proposals were discussed in extensive detail with the Local Planning Authority, key stakeholders and the public, generating a high level of interest and support. •Two well-attended and highly collaborative public exhibitions were held where feedback on emerging proposals was sought. The first represented a chance to present the strategic principles. Feedback was supportive of our master-planning ambitions. The second exhibition showcased the developing scheme in greater detail, allowing overview of massing and architectural approaches, and the developing landscape design.•Over 2,500 attendees gave their views across the two events, including visits from local school pupils and retirement village residents, representing a balanced demographic range. The local MP, Rt Hon. Theresa May also attended.Engagement workshops were held with resident's forums, and community interest groups ' including the Chamber of Commerce, Arts Council, Waterways Group, and the Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead.