Key Maidenhead figures and businesses react to Nicholsons redevelopment decision

Key figures, residents and businesses in Maidenhead have given a mixed reaction to the conditional approval of plans to redevelop the Nicholsons Centre.

While some are satisfied concerns over aspects such as toilet provision and fire safety have been met, others remain concerned 100 spaces for shoppers in the proposed new ‘Pineapple’ multi-storey car park at the former Broadway site, are not enough.

Cllr Gurch Singh, Royal Borough councillor

Planning panel member Cllr Gurch Singh (Lib Dem, St Mary’s), said Thursday’s decision was ‘an important moment for Maidenhead’.

“After years of this scheme being stuck in the system, we finally have a deliverable plan that moves the town forward,” he said. “This version is stronger, cleaner, and far more workable than the ones before it.

“Under this new scheme, the developer will fund, build, and deliver their own car park at no cost to residents, and also contribute towards much-needed upgrades to existing car parks.”

He wants a phased delivery of the scheme with ‘construction timelines compressed to minimise disruption’.

“Without this approval, the risk was the centre would close anyway, leaving a dead site for months or years. Unlocking the scheme now avoids that.

“We must make sure Maidenhead is still alive and competitive in ten, 20, 50 years. This scheme gives us that chance.”

Josh Reynolds MP

Maidenhead MP Josh Reynolds has previously spoken out against the plans, raising concerns over parking provision and the size of the proposed new retail units.

He said: “As a tenant within the shopping centre, I’m obviously sad I will not be there for too much longer.”

He added it is ‘important’ to get the funds to improve car parks in Maidenhead town centre but said ‘nothing would beat having more car parking on the site itself’ — which is what he believes the developer should have done.

“But as they were not willing to do that, which I think is disappointing, this is probably the next best alternative,” he added.

Jo Smith, Labour candidate for Maidenhead in the 2024 General Election 

Ms Smith, who stood in the last general election as Labour candidate for the town, was ‘delighted’ to see the  development is ‘finally set to go ahead’.

She said: “Maidenhead town centre has been crying out for redevelopment since I moved to the town 22 years ago, and the endless frustration of almost any development by the NIMBY lobby has stymied that and lost us so much time.

“Yes, we need supporting infrastructure; yes, we need genuinely affordable and social housing in the mix; yes, we need more GP appointments and probably more parking. But we have a run down shopping centre which is under a compulsory purchase order. There is no way we’ll attract businesses back into the town with that hanging over us.

“Let's get on, get building so there's a town centre that we can be proud of, and that can service the increased footfall from the new flats already in town.”

Richard Grose, manager at Hard Edge

Retailer Richard Grose, manager at Hard Edge in the Nicholsons Centre, has decided to shut up shop for good.

While ‘happy the development is going ahead’, he feels let down by the council and the developers over parking.

Instead of taking a unit elsewhere, his independent menswear store will close permanently after more than 30 years in Maidenhead. .

Mr Grose said: “This would probably be the final nail in the coffin. In particular, the parking situation.

"If more emphasis had been put on local parking, then we may have said ‘ok, we will try and ride this out for the next three years until they deliver phase one’. But at this moment in time, it doesn’t look good.”

Martin McNamee, chair of the planning group at Maidenhead Civic Society

Mr McNamee believes the approval was ‘bound to happen’.

He said the developers made a ‘very good case to show how the retail was going to work’ and addressed concerns over the fire management scheme.

“Parking continues and will always be a disaster. Only time will tell. The fact they’re going to spend more money from this development to upgrade the existing car parks is wonderful, but it doesn’t get over the fact that we don’t have enough car parking spaces in the right area of town.

"But we’re never going to be able to change that. It’s a done deal and we have to live with it.”

James Camplin, Holyport resident

Mr Camplin, who lives in Holyport, believes that ‘any excitement from residents, comes from the hope that something is finally going to happen’.

He added: “However, I cannot for the life of me get excited about a scheme inferior to the previous one with less public space than we have today.

“This newly approved scheme has less shopping and restaurant space, significantly less than the previous scheme and provides less than two car parking spaces for each of the proposed units.

“Comparing this scheme with the previous one, this new one reduces the applicant's build cost, increases its profits and all at the added expense of reduced business rates for the council.

“It makes no sense why our council have done this.

“Despite pleas from many residents for the application to be refused, they were ignored again.”

Jane Wright, Nicholsons Centre manager 

Nicholsons Centre manager Jane Wright was pleased the plans had won conditional approval.

She said more information on the next stages of the redevelopment from Areli would be announced in due course.

In the meantime she said her team was focussed on supporting retailers during their vital last Christmas of trading in the centre.

“This is such an important trading period for retailers,” she said. “I encourage Maidonians to continue to support our many independents and national retailers as they do their Christmas shopping.

“In the run up to Christmas, Santa and the Rotary teams will be in Queens Square on Saturdays, local talent will be participating in Singalong Sundays and a gift-wrapping team from Thames Hospice will be back on December 19.”

Rob Tincknell of Areli

Rob Tincknell, founder and CEO of Areli Group, said: “We are delighted that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has granted unanimous planning approval for the Nicholson Quarter.  

“We have been working hard with the Council and community to move forward with the plans despite the many challenges faced by the project, including the disruption of Covid, cost inflation, higher interest rates and political uncertainty.  

“Despite these challenges, we are now ready to deliver this much-needed regeneration for Maidenhead’s town centre.” 

Frédéric Jariel of Tikehau Capital

Frédéric Jariel, co-head of real estate at Tikehau Capital, said: “Securing consent for the Nicholson Quarter marks an important step in delivering the regeneration of Maidenhead town centre.  

“This scheme reflects our approach of investing in projects that bring long-term social value and strong sustainability outcomes.  

“We are proud to be working alongside Areli to deliver a development that will re-energise the heart of the town and create real benefits for the community.”