Maidenhead & Windsor

Maidenhead Royal Borough plans to relocate Maidenhead's run down Castle Hill Centre have taken a major step forward with the submission of a formal planning and listed building application for its proposed new home at 4 Marlow Road.

The Grade II listed Marlow Road building, currently used by social services staff, is set to be a centre for Castle Hill's popular community and youth activities. However, the refurbishment plans also reflect Maidenhead council's strong commitment to working closely with the area's voluntary organisations.

The planning application includes:

* accommodation for four major providers of community services – the Citizens Advice Bureau, RELATE, No 22 Youth Counselling Service and Connexions
* an extension to the north of the existing building on land that used to be the sensory garden but which has not been used for some time
* a new sensory garden in adjacent Kidwells Park, where seats and paths will be constructed in the next few months.

The planning process should take about 13 weeks and it is hoped that, given planning permission in the autumn, work will start during the coming winter with the 'new Castle Hill' open a year later.

Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for Maidenhead leisure and cultural services, said the planning application was a major milestone in the council's plans to boost youth and community provision in the borough.

He said: "The Castle Hill premises are long past their useful life and we have been working hard with the management committee, users and community organisations to come up with a relocation plan that provides pretty well everything we need.

"The move to Marlow Road keeps provision next door to the town centre and gives us a unique opportunity to develop services not only for young people but also for the wider community, including people with disabilities."

Maidenhead Cllr Fagence added that, if planning permission is granted, he wants to see work underway at the earliest possible opportunity.

As part of the overall scheme the Royal Borough will put the Castle Hill site on the market. The aim is to find the right development partner for this key site close to the town centre, with the proceeds of the sale used for the Marlow Road project.

However Cllr Vicky Howes, lead member for Maidenhead property services, stressed that before any final decisions are taken about the future of the site the council will hold further consultation with interested parties to get views and comments about how it should be best used.

She said: "The consultation could also look at the surrounding landscape and park areas, including Fir Tree Walk and Grenfell Park. This gives us a great opportunity to develop a broader landscape plan for the Castle Hill/Grenfell Park area, which I believe will be warmly welcomed by local people."

Maidenhead Cllr Howes added: "We hope all residents will take advantage of the opportunity to have their say about how this area will shape up in the best interests of the local community.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead