Maidenhead's €588m Nicholson Centre Redevelopment approved

A transformative £500 mln (€588 mln) plan to redevelop the Nicholson Shopping Centre in Maidenhead, Berkshire, has received final planning consent.

Nicholson Quarter

The mixed-use town centre project, led by Areli Group and Tikehau Capital, will see the demolition of most of the existing 1960s shopping centre to make way for 856 new homes, enhanced retail and leisure spaces, and extensive public realm improvements.
The approval, granted by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's planning committee, updates an initial permission from 2021. The revised scheme, designed by architect JTP, includes an increased number of residential units and a reduction in office space following shifts in workplace demand.
The redevelopment will feature four new residential towers, rising to heights of 10, 13, 17, and 20 storeys. These will primarily consist of one-bedroom flats, with 101 homes specifically designated for over-75s senior living. In addition to the homes, the plans include over 55 new shops, bars, and restaurants, alongside office and workspace, and a modern 452-space, 10-floor multi-storey car park equipped with EV charging.
A key highlight of the project is the creation of more than 0.67 hectares of new public spaces, including a prominent civic plaza. This square will offer improved pedestrian and cycle connections and significant green spaces with new trees.
Rob Tincknell, founder and CEO of Areli, commented: "We are thrilled to receive another large-scale, unanimous planning consent in quick succession to Brentford. The Nicholson's Quarter planning permission is the culmination of five years' hard work and is the second of four significant residential-led projects that the Areli Group are progressing through planning at the moment. In total, the projects will deliver over 3,000 new homes and over 1 million sq ft of commercial space. The proposals will deliver a new, truly mixed-use town centre for Maidenhead."