The Windsor One to watch

Callum Brodie • Published 8 Nov 2008 09:00 0 Comments

An ambitious multi-million pound plan for a new development on Alma Road, Windsor, has been revealed.

St Congar Properties has put forward plans to transform Imperial House, the former global HQ of Intercontinental Hotels, into a state-of-the-art complex named ‘Windsor One', complete with flats and office space.

The freehold for Imperial House, comprising of 47,000 sq ft of office space and 4.6 acres of grounds, was bought from the Crown Estate in February for an undisclosed sum.

Developers want to win over residents' support for the project by creating a public courtyard in nearby Vansittart Park and opening a route from the currently under-used park to Windsor town centre.

A planning application is expected to be submitted to the Royal Borough in December and, if approved, construction is due to be completed by 2012.

A company called Green Issues Communications will carry out negotiations with the council and organise public exhibitions for residents on behalf of the property developers.

Richard Royal, senior account manager for Green Issues, said: "This is an exciting flagship proposal for Windsor which will open up a previously less accessible areas for use by the public, creating a pleasant route between an improved Vansittart Park and the town centre."

Members of more than 7,000 households near the site have been sent letters inviting them to exhibitions which will take place on November 14 and 15 at Imperial House.

One homeowner in Alma Road, who did not want to be named, said: "I won't really know what to think until after I've seen the plans. What seems a little bit suspicious to me is the fact that this PR company has been employed to butter people up. I think there could be a negative public reaction."

Jane Eglise, 61, of Alma Road, explained: "I'll be attending the exhibition to see for myself but what seems a shame is that the community is always losing out. [That] money could have been spent on a worthwhile project that would benefit the people of Windsor."

Meanwhile, Marie Ward, 66, of Queens Road, said: "I'm very cynical as it smacks of being much too ambitious. But I suppose business is business and even if it does go ahead I doubt it will affect me very much."

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This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 07 Nov 08

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