RBWM Strikes Deal for Crown Estate to Take Over Home Park Public After Years of Tory Neglect
The Liberal Democrat Administration and Partnership Cabinet at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead have taken decisive action to end more than a decade of decline at Home Park Public by agreeing to surrender the council’s license and enable The Crown Estate (TCE) to take over management from 1 April 2026. The deal includes a £600,000 payment to RBWM to offset short‑term revenue pressures.
For many years, facilities at Home Park Public have deteriorated due to under‑investment, leaving sports clubs with failing infrastructure - clubhouses in poor condition, sewage issues, unsafe pitches, and inadequate changing facilities. This decline was overseen by the previous Conservative administrations, who failed to maintain or reinvest parking income appropriately, resulting in grounds described by users as “not fit for purpose.”
The Cabinet report confirms that RBWM does not have the financial capacity to reverse this neglect without further borrowing, making The Crown Estate’s investment essential. Crucially, ending the licences removes potential repair liabilities and protects the council from major maintenance costs.
Home Park Public is home to a range of local sports clubs that play a vital social and economic role in the community. These organisations bring people together across generations, support youth development, host sporting fixtures that attract visitors, and contribute to Windsor’s local economy through events, coaching, and training programmes. At Cabinet on 27th January 2026, Paul Sedgwick, Deputy Ranger of The Crown Estate outlined their commitment to giving these clubs the modern, safe and reliable facilities they need to thrive, strengthening both community cohesion and Windsor’s sporting reputation.
Cllr Devon Davies, one of the ward councillors for Eton & Castle, highlighted the scale of the inherited problems:
“These grounds have not been fit for purpose for many years… This administration inherited sporting facilities and public grounds that have suffered decades of under‑investment.
“Home Park Public was given by Queen Victoria for the people of Windsor to play sport—not to subsidise the borough’s general finances… Councillor Werner, you are always fixing the mess. On this occasion, we are fortunate that The Crown Estate has offered to fix this mess for us – I say we let them.”
This agreement delivers a sustainable future for the sports clubs and ensures the site can finally receive the level of care and investment it deserves and has long required.
