Windsor 2030The Central Windsor Neighbourhood Plan for Business

Policy framework |17 September 2015

Introduction

Dermot Whelan MRICS

Chairman

Phil McMichael

Vice-Chair

Ian Jones

Treasurer

Paul Roach

Secretary

Our Area

Our Area

History

This plan shows Windsor in 1845. There were slums by the castle wall and buildings on the Long Walk.

A good plan doesn’t just enable change, it improves conservation. In this case, it protected Windsor from the uncontrolled development that befell so many other towns west of London

Many of Windsor’s most cherished buildings, streets, stations and views didn’t happen by accident but were a result of this plan

Plan Progress

Founding the Forum

Publicising the Forum and seeking members

Building the evidence base

Vision Day – themes for this plan first introduced, with positive feedback

Primary research: survey, website feedback

Secondary and tertiary research

Pre-consultation – we’re here

First draft consultation

Second consultation

Inspection (not all steps shown)

Referendum

Key Concerns & Issues

Heritage

Environment

Retail

Business

Access & Parking

Our Objectives

1. Conserving and Enhancing Our Historic Environment

2. Supporting a Five Star Windsor

3. Economic Growth

A Note on our Policies

It’s important to note that the polices set out in the document are draft.

They are a framework for discussion, not in their final form.

All these polices are based on evidence, as they have to be, including

feedback on our Vision Day from residents and other users of the town

centre. As our evidence develops so will our polices.

General Design Principles

Aesthetic design

Density

Parking provision

Shop and building frontages

Don’t forget to see our

amazing photos site

www.flikr.com/windso2030

Examples of good and bad

will be used to help define

our polices

Parking

Given the shortage of parking, no building that reduces the net parking supply will be supported unless providing suitable alternatives.

Additional parking will be supported, subject to there being no loss of public realm and preserving or enhancing historic views, in the following locations (and these only):

Under Alexandra Gardens

Under Bachelor’s Acre

York House multi-story (behind existing council office)

Victoria Street multi-story

King Edward VII (additional deck half above and half underground)

East Berks College car park [precise boundary of NP to be confirmed]

Hog Common [just outside this NP but recommended to outer Windsor NP]

Site Allocations (spatial strategy)

These are places we believe could be improved both visually and for

improving their facility to our residents and economy

Peascod Place

Safeguards

Applications for this

site must include a mix

of:

large anchor-store

(e.g. John Lewis, BHS)

high quality family

apartments

ample parking for

both

King Edward Court

Safeguards

Enhancement of this location will

be favoured if it improves:

1. the visual aspect from the

outside of the centre and

2. the quality and quantity of

parking provision and

3. shoppers’ experiences inside

the centre

St Leonard’s Village

Safeguards

Supported as distinct shopping

area for small businesses and

independents in particular.

This area caters especially for

residents, as distinct from the

more visitor-orientated areas

nearer the castle. Applications

must enhance this offering to

be approved.

Tunnel (300m long)

New rail alignment (tentative) WLR linked

property

NR Riverside station

property

NR Central station property

RBWM coach park and

gardens

Castle car park

(private)

RBWM River St car

park

Integrated Transport Hub

Access to the town has been identified by the research as critical to the

survival and sustainability of the retail and commercial core, as well as a

key issue for residents.

The construction of a railway tunnel joining the two existing lines via a

tunnel to make a through line is, therefore, supported.

[subject to continued support in BLP – consultation live]

Tunnel (300m long)

New rail alignment (tentative) WLR linked

property

NR Riverside station

property

NR Central station property

RBWM coach park and

gardens

Castle car park

(private)

RBWM River St car

park

Integrated Transport Hub Safeguards

A new railway station, in conjunction

with the line upgrades, is supported,

provided it is consistent with the

riverside masterplan. This includes

that the two existing station buildings

and historic views are maintained or

enhanced.

The new station shall improve upon

integration with bus, taxi and car

parking facilities with the aim of:

(1) reducing the need for car usage,

pollution and other stress on the

roads for a given economic activity and

(2) improving the overall experience of

employees, residents and visitors to

the town centre.

Windsor Riverside

Safeguards Views of the castle and river shall be

preserved or enhanced (like this view)

The public pleasure parks and riverside shall be preserved or enhanced

Any buildings shall ‘celebrate tradition’. That is, shall accord with the general design aesthetics policy

Building on car and coach parking sites is supported provided suitable alternatives are found and that it is consistent with the masterplan

The new station and transport interchange will include supporting a through rail link, taxi ranks, bus stops and better integration with car parking

Thank you

Remember: this draft plan is presented not as finished work but as a

framework for discussion

Following the Forum today, this will go online for consultation

Your comments, suggestions or other feedback are welcome

If you want to volunteer to get more involved please get in touch, via

our website www.windsor2030.org