3.1.1 The Borough lies to the west of London providing a predominantly countryside setting for the three main settlements of Maidenhead, Windsor and Ascot, and a number of neighbouring villages. Pressure for development comes from a number of sources including a changing and growing population with a shifting demand for different types of housing and infrastructure.
3.1.2 The presence of good transport links including closeness to Heathrow Airport and the Elizabeth line, a successful urban and rural economy, a high quality environment that serves to attract new residents, businesses and visitors, and the Borough’s relative proximity to London, provides a dynamic setting for future development. The population of the Borough is continuing to change with an ever increasing and ageing population and this shift in the demographic profile will bring with it particular challenges especially with regard to making appropriate provision for sustainable development to meet those needs.
3.2.1 Located in the heart of the Thames Valley, less than 30 miles to the west of Central London, the Borough borders several other administrative local authorities and has important inter-connections with employment and housing catchments, plus strategic transport links. The Borough benefits from having 10 railway stations, served by a combination of main line and branch line services.
3.2.2 Maidenhead is on the Great Western Main Line, which connects London Paddington with south west England and Wales, incorporating branch lines to Marlow and to Windsor and Eton Central. Windsor and Eton Riverside is the western terminus for southern services from London Waterloo, while Ascot lies on the junction of the Waterloo to Reading and the Ascot to Guildford lines. Maidenhead will also be a significant stop for the Elizabeth Line, linking it to Reading, London and beyond.
3.2.3 The Borough is located only a short distance away from the UK’s primary international airport, London Heathrow. This affects the surrounding area in terms of aircraft noise, road traffic, business and tourism. Aviation policy is set at the national level and the Borough actively engages in regular discussions at a strategic level with neighbouring local authorities and through government consultations to identify its impacts.
3.2.4 The Borough contributes to the workforce of nearby towns in the Thames Valley region, with residents commuting to Slough, Reading and London for employment. More than one in ten of East Berkshire’s jobs are located in the Slough Trading Estate. Reading is another major town that provides jobs as well as a major shopping attraction. In turn, the Borough provides some of the main tourist and visitor attractions in the surrounding area, with historic Windsor Castle and its Great Park, Eton College, Legoland Windsor and Windsor and Ascot Racecourses.
3.2.5 The River Thames forms much of the northern boundary of the Borough, which continues to work with the Environment Agency and other bodies to consider fluvial impacts on settlements and neighbours further downstream. The Borough also provides several crucial River Thames crossing points, enabling movement north and south of the river. These are located at Bisham, Cookham, Maidenhead, Windsor, Datchet and Old Windsor.
3.2.6 Additional planned development in the surrounding areas (through other Development Plans) could increase pressure on the Borough’s infrastructure, demand for housing, or on open spaces and access to the countryside. The planned redevelopments of both Slough and Bracknell town centres will impact upon the Borough, and its settlements will need to focus on their unique distinctiveness to maintain their vibrancy and vitality.
3.3.1 Approximately 82% of the Borough’s area is Metropolitan Green Belt. There are 27 Conservation Areas, over 950 Listed Buildings, 17 Scheduled Monuments including Windsor Castle and 12 Registered Historic Parks and Gardens including six which form part of the Royal Windsor Estate. Trees, woodlands and open space play an important role in defining the area as a ‘Green Borough’.
3.3.2 A number of areas in the Borough are internationally designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Areas (SPA), and Ramsar Sites designated under the Natura 2000 Convention. The Borough also has a number of nationally designated sites including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that cover 1,663 hectares or 8.41% of the Borough’s area and one adjoining National Nature Reserve (NNR) at Chobham Common. These designations are, in isolation and in combination, likely to act as constraints on development in line with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
3.3.3 A key feature of the Borough is the vast number of trees and open space that residents and businesses alike can enjoy. Trees and woodlands play an important role in defining the character of a ‘Green Borough’, helping to shape the environment for residents and tourists that appreciate the special characteristics of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
3.3.4 Within the Borough there are a number of larger sites such as Windsor Great Park, Ashley Hill near Burchetts Green and other open space containing trees and woodlands which are important for nature conservation. The River Thames and its associated tree-lined and wooded banks also provide distinctive features and a wildlife corridor.
3.3.5 The Borough’s landscape provides opportunity for conservation, enhancement, restoration and creation, to strengthen distinctive character through design and management. The landscapes that border urban areas, or are attractive tourist destinations (such as Windsor Great Park) are deemed to be particularly at threat from change, although overall the landscapes of the Borough are deemed to have low capacity for change.
Population
3.4.1 The 2011 Census indicated that the Borough has 144,560 residents, an 8.2% increase in the ten years since the 2001 Census, when the population was 133,626. The population of the Borough is showing signs of ageing in line with national trends, seeing 16.7% of the population aged 65+; nationally this was 16.4%.
3.4.2 The Borough also has a slightly higher than national average percentage of young people aged 0 – 19 years at 24.3% of the population, compared to 24.0% nationally. A further trend in the Borough is fewer young adults (19 – 30 years of age) than nationally. This could in part be linked to few further education opportunities such as universities within the Borough, but also potentially the high cost of living and employment opportunities in the area.
Housing
3.4.3 The 2011 Census counted 58,349 households in the Borough. In 2008, 1.4% of the Borough’s dwelling stock comprised second homes; nationally 0.9%. In April 2011, the tenure of dwellings across the Borough was 86.7% private rented or owner-occupied, and 13.3% Registered Social Landlord (RSL); nationally 82% and 10% respectively. The 2011 Census counted 3,495 people living in communal establishments (for example, care homes, boarding schools) in the Borough.
3.4.4 In recent years, the dwelling stock of the Borough has remained relatively unchanged, seeing only a slight shift to smaller dwellings. For example, in 2001 Band C properties made up 14.4% of the dwelling stock, but by 2018 this was 14.7%, and similarly Band G accounted for 15.4% in 2001, down to 14.9% in 2018.
3.4.5 In April 2019, the average property price in the Borough was £465,925 compared to £318,727 for the South East. This is more than double the national average and makes the Borough one of the most expensive places to live in the country outside London.
Health
3.4.6 Access to doctors and hospitals is often cited as a cause for concern in public consultations. The Borough has four hospitals (St Marks, Maidenhead; Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot; King Edward, Windsor; Princess Margaret, Windsor) but no accident and emergency services, and the Borough is reliant on Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, the Royal Berkshire in Reading, Frimley Park in Frimley and St Peters in Chertsey.
3.4.7 Modelling undertaken in October 2015 suggests that 72% of households are within 15 minutes of a GP surgery using public transport and walking (99% are within 30 minutes). For hospitals, 100% of households can access services by car within 30 minutes.
Education
3.4.8 There are 66 state schools in the Borough; three nursery schools, 46 primary schools or first schools, 14 secondary, middle and upper schools, two special schools and one pupil referral unit and of these, 26 are currently academies. Demand for primary school places in the Borough rose significantly in the decade to 2016, and significant new primary capacity was added by the Borough. Although birth rates are now falling, it is expected that there will continue to be challenges at a local level, particularly where there are large numbers of new dwellings. Underlying birth rates may, of course, also start to rise again.
3.4.9 Demand for secondary schools places in the Borough has increased significantly in recent years, and schools in Ascot, Maidenhead and Windsor have been expanded accordingly. Substantial numbers of children and young people living in the Borough attend selective secondary schools in neighbouring local authority areas, particularly Slough and Buckinghamshire. There is also significant movement into the Borough’s secondary sector from neighbouring areas. There are many independent schools located in the Borough, educating approximately 20% of the Borough’s children and young people, at both primary and secondary school age.
3.4.10 There are two further education establishments located in the Borough: Berkshire College of Agriculture (Hall Place, Burchetts Green) and The Windsor Forest Colleges Group, which has a campus at Windsor College in Windsor. The number of students attending further education establishments is increasing year on year, with demand for places arising from prospective students living within and outside of the local authority area.
Recreation
3.4.11 The Borough manages and maintains 70 parks, open spaces and play areas, providing opportunities for sports activities, informal play, or gentle strolls in pleasant surroundings – covering a total area of around 295 hectares. Any intensification or infilling development in the urban area could result in access to open space for recreation becoming an increasingly important local issue. There are also several indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including leisure centres and sports pitches.
Arts and culture
3.4.12 Both The Old Court Artspace in Windsor, and the Norden Farm Centre for Arts in Maidenhead provide events such as film, live music, theatre, comedy, workshops, dance and exhibitions. There is also the Theatre Royal in Windsor, the Sir Stanley Spencer museum in Cookham, a heritage centre in Maidenhead, a museum in Windsor and a number of community halls that host arts and cultural activities. Windsor contemporary art fair brings over 160 curated artists and galleries together in one place over one weekend.
3.5.1 The Borough has a highly qualified workforce with 96% holding qualifications, and 56% qualified to degree level or higher. The main industries for jobs include wholesale and retail trade (16.2%) followed by professional, scientific and technical activities (12.5%), education (10%), information and communications (10%), accommodation and food service activities (8.8%), construction (7.5%) and human health and social work activities (7.5%). The number of people who are self-employed has increased to 12% in 2018 from 10.5% in 2001 (nationally 8.3% in 2001, and 10.6% in 2018). The rise in the self-employed workforce has resulted in an increase in demand for better access to broadband services, particularly in rural areas.
3.5.2 The economically active workforce, aged between 16 and 64 years, is 83.1% which is higher than the national average (78.5%). The unemployment rate is low compared to the national average (2.7% in 2018 compared with 4.2% nationally).
Retail
3.5.3 The Borough has two sub-regional shopping centres (Windsor and Maidenhead), two district centres (Ascot and Sunningdale) and several local centres which provide vital services for residents in the wider urban areas, or villages outside the main urban settlements. Overall, the larger centres provide predominantly comparison goods and services retail functions, with local centres providing more convenience goods and service shops. A similar trend is seen with regard to whether the shops are independents or large national multiple chains; main town centres tend to see a large proportion of the latter, with local centres seeing an increased variety of occupiers.
Visitors and tourism
3.5.4 Tourism is crucial to the local economy, with over seven million people visiting the Borough each year. Windsor itself is home to two of the UK’s top visitor attractions, Legoland and Windsor Castle.
3.5.5 The Borough is also home to other attractions and world class events including Ascot Racecourse with Royal Ascot, Windsor Racecourse, the Windsor Royal Tattoo, Eton College, Windsor Great Park, and historic villages. The Borough contains one of the oldest and best known airfields in the country; White Waltham Airfield, reputedly the largest grass airfield in Britain.
3.5.6 An estimated 590,000 staying trips were spent in the Borough in 2017, of which around 65% were made by domestic visitors and 35% by overseas visitors. It is estimated that 65% of overseas trips to Windsor and Maidenhead were holiday related, 28% were business related and 5% were primarily for visiting friends and relatives.
3.5.7 Tourism-related expenditure is estimated to have supported 6,483 full time equivalent jobs in the Borough; an actual total of 8,816 if part time and seasonal work is accounted for (Economic Impact Study, 2017).
Flooding
3.6.1 The most pressing implication of climate change is likely to be flooding as a result of increased rainfall and hard surfaces due to construction in the future. The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and the Environment Agency flood maps set out which parts of the Borough are located within which flood zones. Guidance in relation to climate change allowances for flood risk assessment is contained in the National Planning Practice Guidance with further information on the Environment Agency’s website.
3.6.2 It is important to take into consideration that property and areas within the Royal Borough currently at risk of flooding may be more susceptible to more frequent and severe flooding in future years. Climate change could also potentially increase the frequency and intensity of localised storms over the Borough, exacerbating localised drainage problems which may be increased by the use of non-porous materials in construction.
Efficient use of energy and resources
3.6.3 The Borough actively encourages residents and businesses to recycle as much as possible, with recycling, reusing or composting accounting for 47.4% of waste in 2016/17. This is in line with the average for the South East in the same period.
3.6.4 Energy consumption is currently mostly from fossil fuels and not renewable sources, although the Borough is increasingly seeing developments incorporating sustainable aspects, and has seen hydro-electric turbines built at Romney Weir and the retrofitting of homes. Many schools, householders and businesses are retrofitting solar panels to their properties to become more energy efficient.
3.6.5 Water usage is a key consideration for the future of the Borough, with alterations in climate patterns having the scope to impact water resources. If spring and autumn become drier and warmer seasons, then the recharge season may be shorter resulting in overall less groundwater recharge. There are already several areas across the Borough covered by Source Protection Zones (SPZ), but the most significant are in SPZ1 where development could have greatest risk to groundwater supplies, including the following locations: Cookham Rise, Hurley, Maidenhead, Bray and North Datchet.
Sustainable transport
3.6.6 The Borough has high car usage and ownership, partially due to the rural nature of some settlements where regular public transport services are not viable, and also as a result of the area being relatively affluent. Car ownership was 86.7% at the 2011 Census, which has increased since the 2001 Census when it was 85.7%. The population is therefore very mobile, increasing the amount of commuting and social journeys undertaken.
3.6.7 The Borough has five Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) to monitor and seek to improve air quality in urban areas that experience high levels of traffic pollution. These are:
3.7.1 Considering the nature of the Borough as described above leads to the identification of a series of key issues for the Borough Local Plan (BLP) to address. The challenge for the BLP is to manage the potential impacts of future growth to ensure that development takes place in a sustainable manner that supports the local economy, whilst safeguarding and enhancing, where possible, the valuable natural and built assets of the Borough.
Key spatial issues
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