Maidenhead Office Park redevelopment approved despite traffic fears

Plans to redevelop Maidenhead Office Park have been unanimously approved despite fears from residents and councillors about increased traffic.

Ascot House Maidenhead Limited is seeking permission to demolish seven units at the site in Westacott Way and build 11 commercial and industrial buildings instead.

The proposals have been revised after a 2023 plan to transform the site into a logistics hub was met with opposition from neighbours and was rejected by the council as ‘inappropriate’ development in the greenbelt – a decision upheld at appeal.

The new plans feature a reduction in total floorspace, reduced building heights and commitments to improve highway safety near the site.

Michael Eastham, the principal planner for the proposal, presented the benefits of the redevelopment to the Maidenhead development management committee on Thursday (September 18).

The meeting heard that 426 parking spaces and 94 electric vehicle charging points are planned for the site, as well as 132 cycle parking spots.

More than 650 jobs will also be created as part of the scheme, according to the applicants.

But residents and councillors addressing members were still ‘deeply concerned’ about the negative impact incoming HGVs and commercial vehicles would have on the nearby Burchetts Green Road.

The chair of the Burchetts Green Village Association, Irene Jordan, said: “We are actually not against the development in principle.

“Burchetts Green Road has become a rat run with high volumes of traffic, currently 5,500 vehicles daily, accompanied by poor driver behaviour.

“There is a real danger this will increase, not only from commuters avoiding the Westacott Way roundabout but also from the site’s own staff and HGVs.”

Councillor Mandy Brar (Lib Dem, Bisham and Cookham) supported these concerns and recommended that the plans should be refused.

Cllr Brar said: “There must be a clear commitment to monitor traffic levels post development. This is about preserving the character, safety and wellbeing of the community that [has] already endured too much.”

To address the frequent car accidents and traffic congestion in the area, Mr Eastham said that the speed limit of Wesacott Way will be reduced from 50mph to 30mph.

Signage or leaflets to reroute HGVs away from the narrow Burchetts Green Road are also part of the plans.

But James Cross, major projects team manager, said: “[This is] very hard to enforce. It’s probably impossible to enforce.”

Geoff Hill, cabinet member for highways and transport (Ind, Oldfield), suggested a traffic regulation order to mitigate the expected increase in traffic.

Despite the concerns, Mark Harris, the applicant’s planning consultant, said these revised plans are ‘an important step forward’ compared to the 2023 scheme.

Mr Harris said: “This has led to support from some parish councils in recognition that we’ve now struck the right balance.

“The park continues to experience high levels of prolonged vacancy, which will not change. A site that can provide hundreds of jobs is currently providing less than 100. It’s clearly underutilised.”

Mr Harris also told members that the floorspace has been reduced by 23 per cent compared to the previous scheme.

The amended plans outline that the development will be 42,541 sqm, with the current site at 27,692 sqm, so this will still increase the floorspace by 14,849 sqm.