Gail's Bakery eyes second store in Windsor town centre

The former Windsor HSBC branch could be turned into a Gail’s café after a planning application was submitted to the Royal Borough.

Planning Potential is seeking planning permission on behalf of the applicant, Gail’s Bakery Ltd, to turn the former HSBC branch at 25 High Street in Windsor into a bakery and café.

The bank closed in October 2023 and the building has been left vacant since.

Now, changes are prosed to the ground and first floor of the Grade II listed building to transform it into a Gail’s Bakery.

Gail’s currently has another bakery in Peascod Street, but when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a staff member said this location will remain open.

If the application is approved, the second Gail’s location in Windsor High Street will have new shelving units installed, a bakers table where food can be prepared, customer seating and accessible toilets for the future customers.

No parking has been included as part of the plans.

A new staircase is also part of the proposals to the right side of the ground floor.

An existing basement staircase will also be retained but used for maintenance only by employees.

Royal Borough conservation officers said the proposed staircase will have a ‘small’ impact on the listed building and will be ‘in keeping with traditional templates.’

A conservation officer said: “The new staircase would result in a small area of loss in the first-floor structure, which supporting evidence shows is likely modern.

"Owing to the lack of any surviving historic floor plan on ground and first floors, I consider the proposed staircase would not harm significance of the listed building.”

A design and access statement, submitted on behalf of the applicant, said the ‘Gail’s Bakery’ signage on the exterior of the building is ‘reduced’ and has a ‘sensitive design’ in keeping when compared to other units on Windsor High Street.

Three red canopettes will also be installed to the outside of the future bakery and two of the existing glass panels will be replaced with louvres.

The Royal Borough is yet to make a final decision on the proposals.

Visit rbwm.gov.uk and seach 25/02410/LBC in the council's planning portal to view the plans.