A Squires and a Wyevale Garden Centre are among a number of sites identified by Windsor Royal Borough Council as potential locations to help fill the borough’s 12,100 new homes by 2029.

Local press reports the aim of the plan is to show how the Royal Borough intends to build 12,000 new homes in the next 15 years. The garden centres would free would free up space for 40 and 35 new homes respectively, according to a report that is due to be heard and decided upon by the councils cabinet on Thursday 26th February.

Dennis Espley, Managing Director of Squires Garden Centres told GTN Xtra yesterday: "We were approached many months ago and asked if we were happy for our Windsor site to be considered as part of the long term planning scheme.  This is the second time the proposal has been taken to cabinet and we have no knowledge of the exact details."

A spokesman for Wyevale Garden Centres said: "We wouldn't comment on the council's potential plans but we appreciate the opportunity to trade in the community."

GTN understands Windsor Royal Borough is not alone in looking at re-designating existing sites to allow for future house building as part of their requirements for future population planning.  Plans such as these allow councillors to remove protected Green Belt and other planning status from certain sites so that housing developments and other new develpements can take place.

The list of potential sites in Windsor includes:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Water Oakley - 16 homes

Squires Garden Centre, Maidenhead Road, Windsor - 40 homes

Wyvale Garden Centre, Dedworth Road, Windsor - 35 homes

Ascot Railway Station Car Park, Station Hill, Ascot - 35 homes

Land at Heatherwood Hospital, London Road, Ascot - 200 homes

Shorts Recycling Centre, St Georges Lane, Ascot - 65 homes

According to the report, councillors will be recommended to remove protected Green Belt status from Braywick Park with a new leisure centre being built at the park to replace the Magnet Leisure Centre.

Squires MD, Dennis Espley went on to say; "I believe this is very much long term planning by the council.  In my lifetime I fully expect our Windsor Garden Centre to be operating on the site."