Public consulted over £29m Maidenhead leisure centre

The public are being asked for ideas to add to the planned new £29 million leisure centre for Maidenhead. The Braywick Centre is being called a once-in-40-years chance for an outstanding centre in the Royal Borough and would replace the Magnet Leisure Centre. Currently it includes: * A 10-lane swimming pool with moveable floor * Larger training pool * Larger splash area * A 200-station gym * Better accessibility for sports teams and disabled users * Double the parking spaces (500 compared to

New M3 service station planned at Basingstoke

Plans are being drawn up for a new motorway service station at J6 of the M3 at Basingstoke. Greengage Environmental Ltd, on behalf of Moto Hospitality, has applied to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council to request a screening opinion on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed for a service area which will include an amenity building, a hotel, petrol station, drive thru coffee shop and parking areas for all classes of vehicles. The proposal for the 13.5 ha site on the south

Council consults over playground

A council consultation has begun on the latest phase of Wokingham’s regeneration – a town centre playground. The borough council has been working with designers and has come up with what it believes will be one of the best children’s play area for miles around. It will be part of the controversial Elms Field redevelopment. The public consultation runs until Sunday, November 13. Cllr Mark Ashwell, executive member for planning and regeneration, said: “The designs have incorporated lots of

Heathrow expansion 'exactly what businesses need' - but not everyone is happy

Both Thames Valley Berkshire and Enterprise M3 LEPs have welcomed the Government's decision to back Heathrow's third runway. Transport secretary Chris Grayling made the announcement on Tuesday morning. An economic assessment commissioned by the Western Wedge partners (Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, Enterprise M3 LEP, Buckinghamshire LEP, Oxfordshire LEP and West London Business) in 2013 highlighted that the expansion of Heathrow would add 35,000 jobs and £3.5 billion of GVA by 2040 to the South

Moxy and Residence Inn hotels for Slough

Two hotels planned for the Slough library site will be Moxy and Residence Inn. The two brands are Marriott International hotels operated by Cycas Hospitality, which specialises in managing dual branded hotels. The announcement was made on Tuesday, (October 25) by Slough Urban Renewal (SUR), a joint venture between Slough Borough Council and Morgan Sindall Investments which is regenerating much of the town. It means Slough will have a 144-room affordable boutique Moxy Hotel and a 92-room

MBC Estates plans 180 homes at Southmoor

Plans have been submitted for 180 homes at Spring Hill in the village of Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor in Oxfordshire. MBC Estates, through agent West Waddy ADP has submitted the application to Vale of White Horse District Council, for the 28.17-acre site in the village (informally known as Southmoor) which runs alongside the A420. As well as the homes, the development includes landscaping, allotments, orchards, community green space and pedestrian and road connections. The developer sets

West Berks plans joint venture to buy property

A partnership between Greenham Common Trust (GCT) and West Berkshire Council (WBC) is close to being finalised which would allow the two to jointly buy commercial property. Funds generated from the capital investments would then support council services and the trust’s charitable activities. The council has signed up to the Government's four year financial settlement which encourages councils to be less dependent on government grants by raising money through their own investments. Over the

New plan for 107 apartments in Station Road, Reading

Titan Property Developments has applied for planning permission for a 23-storey residential building in Reading, a few yards from Thames Tower. The developer has made changes to a previous application submitted in late 2015 to demolish the existing building at 29-35 Station Road for a new tower of 110 apartments. The latest proposals drawn up by WCEC Architects, are for a new building consisting of 107 apartments with retail on the ground and first floors. The site has had a long history of

Approval for 80 bed care home

An 80-bed care home has been approved in Henley. The scheme by Essex-based developer Henthames Ltd and Wokingham-based Hallmark to demolish the former LA Fitness gym in Newtown Road, which closed in August 2015, to build an 80-bed care home along with new access from Mill Lane, was approved by councillors on Wednesday (October 19). Essex-based developer Henthames Ltd and Wokingham-based Hallmark had applied to demolish the former LA Fitness gym in Newtown Road, which closed in August 2015,

Approval for 555 homes near Wallingford

Plans to build 555 homes and a school to the west of Wallingford have been given approval. As we reported last week, St Edwards Homes, a joint venture between Berkeley Homes and Prudential applied to build on 80 acres of land off the A4130 Calvin Thomas Way and Bosley Way. The scheme was approved by planners at South Oxfordshire District Council on Wednesday (October 19). As well as the homes and primary school the development includes a 75 unit scheme for extra care housing (included in the