We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday, 13th December 2023, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council adopted the Building Height and Tall Buildings Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which Urban Initiatives prepared on behalf of the council.
Much of the Royal Borough is comprised of low-rise villages and suburban settlements set within the landscape. Building heights increase slightly in the urban areas of the borough. The town centre of Maidenhead, in particular, has been the focus of several developments of significant height, necessitating specific guidance to ensure an appropriate response to the surrounding context.
The SPD provides a definition of a tall building for different parts of the borough and identifies heritage and townscape assets that are sensitive to tall buildings. It identifies sites in the borough where there may be opportunity for increased building height or tall buildings and provides guidance on heights and building design.
The preparation and consultation on the SPD was preceded by several related commissions: a building height baseline study, building height strategy, and the drafting of the tall buildings policy for the Local Plan, which was defended during the examination in public. Over the past five years, we have worked extensively in Windsor and Maidenhead and are incredibly proud that our work has become a material consideration in planning decisions. This will help to ensure high-quality height and design outcomes in the Royal Borough.