[Bob Dulson, who is a member of the Maidenhead Civic Society, prepared this article and kindly gave his permission for it to used in this newsletter. To amplify a little, Bob organised a meeting called the Mutual Interest Group consisting of representatives from the Civic Society, HTPS, EDRA and river users groups, not to mention contributions from the Environmental Agency. Ed.]
Readers may have seen reports that the Taplow Mill site, which includes Skindles, is on the market – again. Last August, mill owners St Regis caused ripples across the river by selling the 48-acre site to Watchword, a small company of property speculators in an unconditional sale, reportedly worth £30 million.
To try and make sure that this important and environmentally valuable area of Thames riverside is protected and improved, the Civic Society has been liaising with colleagues in the Hitcham & Taplow Preservation Society, local residents and the River Thames Society.
With the backing of amenity groups like ours, South Bucks District Council moved swiftly to extend the Taplow Riverside Conservation Area to include the part of the site which borders the Thames. The Area has recently been the subject of another character appraisal consultation to which the Society has made a submission.
English Heritage was also alerted and, we were pleased to hear, granted Grade II listed status to Glen Island House (pictured) that St Regis has used as its HQ. Originally it was a 'gentleman’s residence', built in 1869 by Irish baronet and man of renown, Lt Gen Sir Roger Palmer who rode with the 600 in the Charge of the Light Brigade.
The site also includes four other buildings of architectural and historic significance as well as Skindles. These include a remarkable U-shaped stabling and carriage building, built in 1880 that bears Palmer’s initials. Now, however, the whole is being sold again, through the London offices of King Sturge, one of Europe’s largest independent property consultants.
Their full-page colour advertisement in
Estates Gazette, the journal of the commercial property sector, at the end of May proclaimed: 'The property benefits from significant water frontage to the River Thames and Jubilee River.'
The existing buildings extend to 15,802 sq.m. and, according to the advert, there’s scope for 'extended development incorporating residential, commercial, hotel and leisure, health care facilities, care homes and retirement village developments'. Though, with the site being in the Green Belt and the flood plain, it was careful to add: 'Subject to the necessary consents'.
The illustration in the advertisement seemed to imply that the site might be subdivided but the agents told us that this was not their intention, although it would depend on what potential purchasers had to say. King Sturge had talked with SBDC who had given an indication of what they want to see... 'something different from what’s there now'! A shortlist of possible buyers has been drawn up and early feedback suggests a leaning towards care homes, a hotel and homes for the elderly – but, sadly, nothing specifically water-related.
Bob Dulson
Maidenhead Civic Society
