Windsor Yards Shopping Centre
Project overview
The regeneration of Windsor Yards to help to rejuvenate the fortunes of a declining shopping centre. The planning application included new hotel and office space, a upgraded car park and enhanced public realm.
The Challenges
- Securing cross-party support from RBWM councillors;
- Delivering a comprehensive and meaningful consultation for businesses and residents in a town centre location;
- Reassuring stakeholders and the community of the economic benefits associated with the redevelopment; and
- Managing the messaging regarding the scale of the development and its impact on sensitive nearby heritage assets such as Windsor Castle.
The Cratus Approach
- Cratus worked to provide an extensive consultation which included two days of public exhibitions in a vacant unit at the Windsor Yards shopping centre which attracted local residents, visitors, businesses and RBWM councillors.
- Cratus also supported on political engagement and organised and attended a large number of meetings with relevant local councillors, the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning, Parking, Highways & Transport. Cratus supported in carefully nurturing these relationships throughout the course of the project.
- Cratus identified and arranged engagement with crucial local stakeholders including the Windsor & Eton Society, Eton Town Council and local residents associations.
- Cratus also delivered a social media campaign to advertise the consultation to a wider audience and this activity was promoted by some local councillors.
This extensive community consultation programme led to a scheme which demonstrably changed as a result of consultation with the community. The consultation was attended by over 300 people in total and over 90% of those who left feedback were in support of the proposals.
No individual member of the public submitted an objection to the application, which also received the support of Eton Town Council and a local residents association.
Cratus also provided support pre-Committee which involved the preparation of a members briefing document which was well received by councillors and RBWM officers alike.
The application was approved unanimously by the Windsor and Ascot Development Management Committee in April 2023.
