Maidenhead & Windsor

A controversial proposal for an office development on Maidenhead's old cinema site has been unanimously refused by the Royal Borough.

Meeting last night (Wednesday April 2), members of the Maidenhead development control panel stressed the importance of the site for the rejuvenation of the town centre and the council's commitment to ensure an appropriate development.

However, they felt the application from CBRE SPUK II (No 7) Ltd for a four storey office building with underground parking was not suitable for the site because of its

· over-dominance and impact on this important gateway to the town centre
· impact on the Conservation Area, and
· detrimental effect on the Green Way.

The panel also approved an application to demolish the old cinema and a wall, both unlisted but in the Conservation Area.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Derek Wilson, panel chairman, said: "There has been huge public and media interest in this application, including a petition with more than 1,000 signatures, and the panel took considerable care to look into every aspect of the development proposals.

"The old cinema site has been a blot on the Maidenhead landscape for many years and we are very conscious of the need to develop it for the overall benefit of the town centre – but we must get it right!"

The site has existing planning approval for offices, granted in 1997, and Cllr Wilson pointed to last year's Planning Inspectorate report that named Maidenhead as a suitable place for future office development. However, he said each application must be judged on its merits and in this case the proposals failed to measure up to the planning requirements for the site.

He added: "I would hope that the developer will now take a fresh look at their designs and come back with an amended proposal that takes the planning panel's decision – and the very valid views expressed by members of the public – into account."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead