The council is ‘continuing to work’ with developers of a major regeneration project in the town centre, it has said, after doubts were cast over its future.

Plans to demolish the Nicholsons shopping centre and car park in Maidenhead town centre and build 650 homes, 60 spaces for shops, bars and restaurants, and office space have long been in the works.

But recently released council documents suggested it was ‘not necessarily the case’ that the now-demolished multi-storey Broadway car park would be replaced with a new one.

And Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council leader Simon Werner warned that talks with developer Areli were in a ‘watch this space position’.

READ MORE: Doubts over future of car park in Nicholsons Quarter plans

Now a spokesperson has said the council is ‘continuing to work’ with Areli and is also ‘exploring possible improvements’ to the plans. It comes after Areli said it was also working on changes.

Neither the council nor Areli commented further on what those changes might be, but said these would soon be made public. The council did not answer whether the changes affected the replacement car park.

The council spokesperson told the Observer: “We are continuing to work with Areli on plans to regenerate the Nicholson’s Quarter, to benefit borough residents and visitors and bring significant economic growth to Maidenhead.

“The first step to work beginning, the demolition of the carpark, has been completed and under budget.”

They added: “We are also exploring possible improvements to the shopping centre development plans, reflecting feedback to support the delivery and maximise the positive impact of the scheme. These will be shared as work progresses.”

The council agreed with developers in 2020 that it would hand over the Nicholsons Broadway car park land in return for similar-sized land in the new development.

Council leaders then agreed in January 2021 that the Royal Borough would build a new multi-storey car park, but lease the upper two levels to developers as well as the basement for their own separately constructed parking.

The Broadway car park was closed in December 2022 after parts of the ceiling broke down, and demolition began in January this year.

But a report presented to council leaders on Wednesday, October 2, suggested there was uncertainty surrounding the car park’s replacement.

The report suggests some £200,000 of demolition costs have been paid for out of its capital budget. This is used for major works and is separate to the revenue budget that pays for day-to-day spending.

But the report says this is only allowed ‘if there is a clear plan for construction of a new asset’. It adds that this is ‘not necessarily the case’. That would mean the £200,000 would have to be paid for from the council’s revenue budget, adding to its financial woes.

Areli said it was ‘committed’ to the Nicholsons Quarter development, was ‘continuing to work alongside the council’, and hoped to begin construction work at the end of next year.

But it also said it was ‘exploring amendments to the plans in response to feedback and changes in how people live and work’.