GROUND has been broken at a former leisure centre site to kickstart a £150m regeneration scheme to deliver more than 400 homes.

In partnership with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, developer Countryside has started works to build 434 homes at the former Magnet Leisure Centre in Holmanleaze, Maidenhead.

The development, known as St Cloud Way, will deliver 87 affordable homes – 33 of which are affordable rent and 54 shared ownerships. Those homes will be provided and managed by housing provider Abri.

Slough Observer: A CGI of what the scheme could look like once finishedA CGI of what the scheme could look like once finished (Image: Countryside)

The ground was broken at the site on Thursday, March 16, following a few months of demolition work.

Council leader Andrew Johnson, Wayne Morris group chair of Abri and key representatives from Countryside and the Royal Borough marked the occasion with a ground-breaking ceremony.

READ MORE: Maidenhead: 434 flats plan at former Magnet leisure centre approved

Cllr Johnson said: “This is a significant moment in our exciting regeneration of Maidenhead town centre, with this site delivering a mixture of new town centre homes, including 87 affordable homes, to help meet the needs for our community.

“With leisure facilities now provided at Braywick Leisure Centre, this transformative £150m investment, our largest partnership project with Countryside, is bringing a prime brownfield site back into use, delivering much-needed new homes, alongside wider community and infrastructure investment, that will boost the town centre and support further major investment.

READ MORE: Maidenhead: Magnet Leisure Centre set to be demolished

“I’m thrilled construction is underway and I look forward to seeing the redevelopment taking shape behind the hoardings, knowing it is bringing huge benefits in the long-term, and in the shorter-term is supporting jobs and careers in the local construction industry.”