Maidenhead office block could be turned into 27 flats

A planning application to convert a former office building in Maidenhead into 27 flats has been submitted to the Royal Borough.

Vaughan Architecture is seeking approval to turn a four-storey office building at 72-80 Moorbridge Road into 27 flats.

The building is currently vacant, but it was formerly occupied by four businesses: Mapi Ltd, Lexis Nexis Ltd, Anaplan Ltd and Norebo Europe Ltd.

Last year, similar plans to redevelop the office building into 36 flats were refused because officers believed the development did not meet nationally described space standards (NDSS).

Now, the applicant said every apartment meets the required space standards, with the smallest flat having 40.8m2 of space.

The majority of the residential units would be turned into studio apartments with two-bedroom units for four people, ‘suitable for small families’, also proposed.

If approved, the residential building could house up to 56 residents.

The previous plans also did not offer enough daylight into the flats, but the updated proposals will use floor to ceiling glazing panels to allow ‘substantial amounts of natural light’ into the units.

The parking court on site will be retained to provide 34 spaces, including 17 spaces with EV charging, visitor spaces and two disabled spots.

In the planning statement, the applicant said that ‘given the excellent transport links available, the developed apartments will offer modern, high-quality living spaces’.

A transport statement was also submitted with the plans and said Maidenhead railway station is a 12-minute walk or five-minute cycle from the site.

No landscaping or green spaces have been proposed but the Town Moor is opposite the site, with Strand Water also bordering the building.

The development would also contribute to the borough’s five year housing supply ‘supporting the vibrancy of the local area’, the planning statement said.

The Royal Borough is yet to make a decision about the application.