Plans to redevelop Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital into housing submitted

First used as a hospital in 1922, the site has been earmarked for demolition since Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead councillors gave the go-ahead for a new hospital to be built at the Heatherwood site, which is nearing completion.

However, the opening date of the new hospital has been delayed after major flooding over the May bank holiday affecting the lower levels of the site caused by a burst pipe.

READ MORE: Heatherwood hospital flood damage causes opening date delays

The closure of the hospital was first agreed in 2013 and developers Taylor Wimpey undertook a virtual consultation earlier this year as they prepared to submit a reserved matters application while medical services were being transferred to the new site.

Taylor Wimpey and Frimley Heath NHS Foundation Trust have now submitted plans and are asking for permission to redevelop the site into 230 homes, including three two-beds, 88 three-beds, and 16 four-bedroom homes.

The plans also include a five-storey apartment block compromising 14 one-bed, 77 two-bed, and 32 three-bedroom flats.

Street view of the proposed development

The developers are also proposing 368 car parking spaces including visitor and car club spaces, electric vehicle points, 434 cycle space and storage, new public open spaces, a toucan crossing on the High Street, and retention of trees as well as new landscaping.

According to Taylor Wimpey, over 1,300 households and businesses were invited to comment on the proposal but the design and access statement states only 46 responded via email, letter, and online.

Only 62 per cent supported or remained neutral on the scheme and 39 per cent either strongly opposed or opposed.

The feedback made the developers go back to the drawing board to reduce the amount of on-street parking across the site, improve the quality of open space, reduce the number of three-storey homes, decrease the amount of hard surfacing across the site, and better respond to the local climate emergency.

Wellington Place

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Robin Pearmain, senior planning manager at Taylor Wimpey West London, said: “We are committed to engaging with the local community regarding our residential reserved matters proposals and have listened carefully to the feedback received through our public consultation.

“In finalising our plans, we have sought to positively respond to the comments of the local community and stakeholders to ensure the creation of an exemplar scheme, which delivers much-needed new homes on a brownfield site.

“We are proud to be associated with the redevelopment of the Heatherwood Hospital site and our scheme has been carefully designed to exhibit a strong sense of identity and create an enhanced green gateway into Ascot.”