The top 10 retail developments

An overview of the major retail schemes in the Thames Valley with the help of Fiona Brownfoot, retail partner at Hicks Baker. Ten centres where shoppers can expect change: Slough - Six more large units and 675 flats at the Queensmere Observatory Reading - Regeneration of the Broad Street Mall Caversham - Redevelopment of St Martin's Centre Maidenhead - New shops at The Landing and Nicholson Centre Newbury - Development expected at the Kennet Centre Bracknell - The Lexicon, due to open in

Movers: Travis Perkins signs at Slough Trading Estate and more

Segro lets to Travis Perkins Segro has let 20,000 sq ft unit at Slough Trading Estate to Travis Perkins. The building materials supplier and its trade-only kitchen business Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery with occupy the site at 4 Buckingham Avenue which is currently under construction. The shell will be handed over for fit out at the end of this year. Other Travis Perkins businesses already on the Slough Trading Estate include BSS Pipeline and Heating Supplies, Plumbing Trading Supplies (PTS)

Heathrow boss makes five pledges to the neighbours

Heathrow has announced five pledges to those living nearby, promising economic benefits from expansion and to be a better neighbour whether expansion goes ahead or not. Speaking at the 2016 Responsible Business Summit, chief executive John Holland-Kaye set out the steps the airport would take to tackle major issues: 1. Help communities prosper by providing up to 40,000 jobs, training opportunities and careers to benefit local families with expansion. 2. Be a good neighbour meeting

22 new stores sign up at Oxford's Westgate Centre

Twenty-two more retail brands have signed up at the Westgate Centre in Oxford including Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein and Victoria’s Secret Pink. The centre, now 51 per cent pre-let or in solicitors’ hands, is on course for opening in October 2017. Naomi Howard, leasing director at developer Westgate Oxford, “We are thrilled so many great brands are already committed to Westgate Oxford and that we are delivering such an impressive premium line up. With less than 18 months to go, we’ve secured more

Hundreds more homes planned in Wokingham

Berkeley Homes is planning 145 residential units at Bell Farm in Wokingham - and there could be a similar number built in the next field. Savills, on behalf of the developer, has applied to Wokingham Borough Council to request a screening opinion on the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The 15 hectare site which has the A329M running along its northern boundary has a number of farm buildings and a house on it and Ashridge Stream running through it. The development will have a

Chance to comment on Slough development sites

A ‘call for sites’ for development by Slough Borough Council has resulted in 130 suggestions and now the public is invited to comment on them. The council wanted to know what sites might be available for new homes, employment, community uses and other facilities across the borough over the next 20 years and asked residents and businesses to suggest where they thought land could be put to better use. All the sites including many in Colnbrook, Poyle and the town centre were put forward by

Bracknell: The billion dollar town

Those behind the regeneration of Bracknell town centre have calculated the town has benefitted from $1 billion dollars of investment. Victor Nicholls, assistant chief executive of Bracknell Forest Borough Council, spoke to members of the First Tuesday Club on June 7 at Green Park and told them that between 2010 and 2017, the total investment in the borough (excluding redevelopment of Broadmoor) was £768 million ($1billion). Mr Nicholls said people had long urged the council to do something

Three expansions at Abingdon Business Park

Three tenants on Abingdon Business Park have announced they are each more than doubling the space they have. The 50-acre Rockspring-owned park which is asset managed by XLB, where 2,000 people are employed, has announced deals with Gigaclear, M-Flow Technologies Ltd and Michael Weinig (UK). Thanks to recent tender wins and additional funding and investment Gigaclear, provider of pure fibre ultrafast broadband has moved from 3,000 sq ft at Hitching Court, to the 10, 500 sq ft at newly

Maidenhead Golf Club set for 1,350 homes

Maidenhead Golf Club looks likely to make way for up to 1,350 homes after a deal with the Royal Borough. The Maidenhead Advertiser has reported that the club will receive £12 million to give its lease on the council-owned 150-acre site within seven years. That figure would rise to £16.25m if the club leaves within three years. In a statement to members, chairman Brian McGinley says the club was made an improved offer and added: “The board believes that this agreement represents the best

Ascot Hight Street plan moves closer

A new plan is to be produced to redevelop Ascot High Street. Once complete, the plan funded by a group of key stakeholders in the project: The Crown Estate, Ascot Racecourse Limited, Bloor Homes (responsible for the Car Park 5a area) and Ascot Central Car Parks Ltd (Car Park 5) be submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for adoption. It is likely to include a High Street Traffic Management Plan and research into the best way to create a sustainable new community centre.