Maidenhead is changing. If you have visited recently you’ll have seen the town centre continues to experience significant regeneration –there are now unprecedented levels of new development underway.
Residential-led schemes are at the forefront of this evolution, with sites now being cleared and prepared at three separate ends of the town centre; in each case existing commercial buildings have been demolished and new apartment blocks are planned (in some cases up to 16 storeys high). Latest estimates suggest over 850 new apartments are due to be delivered over the next 12-24 months in the town centre, and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead continues to play an active role in supplying further allocated development sites.
The town’s shopping and leisure offering is already improving; with the new restaurants and cafes recently opened at Chapel Arches waterside frontage having been well received, and more planned nearby. Construction of the new state-of-the-art Braywick Park Leisure Centre has commenced and the Nicholson’s Shopping Centre is due to be comprehensively redeveloped following recent public consultation. This regeneration has also prompted significant infrastructure works. Highway improvements are now underway by the station, in readiness for Crossrail’s imminent arrival, and more works planned to improve traffic flows elsewhere.
All this development is very exciting, and good news for the town’s long-term success and vitality, but we remain mindful of the need to maintain critical town centre business space here, to ensure Maidenhead continues to attract and retain commercial occupiers who remain vital for the local economy.
Grade A office supply continues to tighten – notably 30% below the five-year average. At just 14 % of total Maidenhead stock, Grade A supply is set to fall further with space now under offer at Pearce Building. Substantial office supply has also been lost to either residential conversion under permitted development or wider changes of use over time. In recent months we have seen several significant office occupiers relocating out of Maidenhead, or focusing on out-of-town options, often citing a lack of high-quality office space with adequate parking in the town centre.
Today’s modern office occupier seeking new space typically requires a best-in-class contemporary designed building with good natural light and flexible floor plates to accommodate both open-plan fluid workspace with some elements of cellurisation. Other considerations include excellent floor to ceiling heights that can offer the option of either traditional or exposed ceiling finishes and of course very good sustainability credentials and parking.
Thankfully, there has been one new Grade A office building delivered in Maidenhead’s new era of change- known as ‘Lantern’ (pictured). Situated on Marlow Road, developed by Berwick Hill Properties, Lantern is the first speculative office development to complete in the town centre in almost three years. Located close to both the train station and High Street, in a highly-prominent position overlooking both the Bath Road (A4) and Kidwells Park, Lantern provides an impressive addition to the Maidenhead skyline.
This new high-specification building provides over 19,000 sq ft of unique Grade A office space across three floors, with a stunning double height reception, exceptional natural light and innovative floor plates. This provides highly-flexible workspace from approx. 6,000 sq ft upwards and first-class amenities.
Fitted space is available, along with cycle storage and a cycle repair station, changing facilities, and on-site parking with state-of-the-art electric car charging points. The building is also already fully wi-fi enabled, with superfast fibre available within one week.
With this exceptional business space offering, Lantern is already being well received by potential occupiers as a highly successful new addition to Maidenhead’s commercial business district.
If you would like to learn more about Lantern, or speak about any aspect of your office requirements, get in touch with Dominic Faires, Lambert Smith Hampton:
01628 678185
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