Bracknell

Plans for the £750 million regeneration of Bracknell town centre took a step forward last night (Thursday), when the Planning and Highways Committee of Bracknell Forest Borough Council granted permission for variations to the initial outline planning permission secured by the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership.

New Bracknell shops, restaurants, cafes and bars as well as homes, business accommodation and improved public open spaces are included in the proposals. The regeneration will also deliver highway and public transport improvements, and new public buildings, including a larger town centre library.

Cllr Paul Bettison, Leader of Bracknell Forest Borough Council, said: “The regeneration is in sight and we are looking forward to seeing the much needed transformation of Bracknell town centre in the near future.

David Gregory, Development Manager at BRP, added: “This consent takes the team another step closer to starting the regeneration project. We are now progressing the designs for the retail development in the north of the town. We are hard at work behind the scenes on the many details required for the development and we thank Bracknell residents for their continued support for the regeneration.”

Whilst BRP works towards starting on site progress is being made on a number of other key developments set to change the face of Bracknell.

Designs are now being drawn up for the replacement of the key public buildings that will have to be moved to make way for the regeneration scheme, including the police, Magistrates’ Court, Royal British Legion, council offices and Bracknell Library.

Nicholas Hare Associates have been selected as the architects for the new Bracknell civic centre. The highly regarded company has been responsible for projects such as the Oval Basin in Cardiff and the Royal Courts in Guernsey.

Construction work has started on the £36 million redevelopment of Bracknell and Wokingham College in the town centre.

Howard O’Keefe, Principal and Chief Executive of the College, said: “Our vision is of a new campus, a world class facility of which all local people can be proud and from which they will benefit. The design of the new building is modern and distinctive, making a fitting backdrop to the “eastern gateway” to Bracknell town centre as it approaches regeneration.”

Plans are also being developed to rebuild Garth Hill College to the south of Bracknell town centre with a decision by the Council’s Executive to go-ahead with the procurement of the £33 million project.

Elsewhere in the Bracknell town centre, Camp Moss Properties Ltd has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of properties in Market Street, which is now being considered by the Council. Provided the scheme complies with outline planning permission, this could bring a much-needed facelift to this part of town.

Ed Goodwin, Managing Director, said: “We have now submitted our planning application for a mixed-use development, which will create new business, retail, leisure and homes on one of the major sites in the town centre. If we are successful in our planning application, we would hope to make a start as soon as possible in the New Year. We are extremely excited about our proposed development and believe it will create a modern and innovative frontage for the western approach to the new Bracknell town centre.”

Two weeks ago the owners of the former Bracknell 3M building, Comer Homes, also released pictures of their proposals to demolish the existing building and replace it with luxury apartments. Any scheme would need to provide for the existing indoor market and fit within the overall master plan for the area. This is another clear sign of commitment to the regeneration of Bracknell town centre.

The former Met Office roundabout is also being transformed with the new Celsius development.

Visitors will already have seen signs of the Bracknell regeneration starting to happen, with ground investigations works being carried out in bore holes across the town centre. The important work will establish the make-up of the earth beneath the town centre ahead of construction beginning.

Both BRP and the Council are working hard to make Bracknell a successful and vibrant town even before the regeneration. New national brands have recently been attracted to the town centre by BRP including Bay Trading with Dolcis, Miss Selfridge, BBs Coffee and Muffins, Caffé Nero in Bentalls, and Thorntons.

Bracknell Forest Borough Council