What will Maidenhead’s regeneration and the arrival of Crossrail mean for residents and workers?
Maidenhead is set for a major facelift over the next few years. The town is currently undergoing a £250 million regeneration of its centre. What’s more the completion of the project is set to tie in with the arrival of the much-anticipated Crossrail 1 scheme.
Both of these ambitious projects are scheduled for delivery in 2019. But what do the plans involve and what will they mean for locals in Maidenhead?
Area For Development
The development will span the area between Broadway, King Street and Queen Street. This is set to transform a significant portion of the city centre. It also aims to improve access to The High Street and Nicholson’s Shopping Centre from the train station.
“With Crossrail arriving in 2019, Maidenhead needs an entrance to the town which it can be proud of,” commented Doug Higgins, managing director at Developer London and Aberdeen, when plans were submitted in 2014.
Shops and Offices
The project is set to bring many new shops and restaurants, which should boost commerce and attract new visitors to the town. The development includes a huge 265,000 sq ft of office space providing plenty of Maidenhead job opportunities and 48,000 sq ft of retail space with 375 new parking spaces.
To date, shops and retail outlets in Maidenhead have faced stiff competition from scenic Windsor and Reading, with the Oracle shopping centre. The scheme aims to make the town a shopping and leisure destination in its own right.
Public Areas
The regeneration program is also to feature public spaces including ‘Lantern Circus’, a central plaza where public art installations are to be displayed. This should bring a new vibrancy to the town centre and attract shoppers, diners and other visitors.
Living
The development includes 225 new apartments to occupy the upper levels of three buildings in King Street and Queen Street. These one, two and three bedroom properties are to provide convenient, modern accommodation within easy access of the railway station.
The regeneration and arrival of Crossrail is also predicted to further boost the local property market. The current average house price in Maidenhead is £481,168 whilst flats currently sell for an average of £287,146.
Transport
Excitement is building for the arrival of the Crossrail 1 project. The new service will provide a fast link to central London with a journey time of 43 minutes to Tottenham Court road and 55 minutes to Canary Wharf.
The impact of the new line is expected to be significant for many workers, cutting journey times in half in many cases.
Plans have also been proposed for a new rail link to Heathrow airport from Slough, which could potentially half the current journey time from Maidenhead via The Heathrow connect service from Hayes and Harlington.
In addition to new parking spaces, there will also be around 500 cycle park spaces, to encourage sustainable modes of transport.
A Bright Future for Maidenhead
The project is predicted to boost the local economy and tempt new residents to the area. The addition of shops, restaurants and offices are expected to bring thousands of new job opportunities to the town.
Maidenhead has long been a popular location to live and work and the regeneration looks set to further enhance its appeal.
For more information on job opportunities in Maidenhead, get in touch with a member of the Bucks and Berks team today. We recruit for a variety of positions in in Maidenhead and the surrounding area.
