Business

Regeneration coming as businesses are given final notice to leave

By Becky Barnes
February 15, 2013

The new town centre moved ‘one step closer’ this week as businesses earmarked for demolition were handed their final notices to leave.

Bracknell Forest Council sent Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) on Monday to tell businesses their properties must be vacated by June 4, with demolition works due to kick off this summer.

Helen Barnett, Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) marketing manager, said: “We are delighted the CPO letters are being issued as this gives certainty to the timetable for moving tenants from the northern area of the town. This will enable demolition and signals the start of the regeneration.”

The northern part of the town, which includes Broadway and Crossway, is earmarked for the first stage of a phased regeneration to be completed in stages.

Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for economic development and regeneration, said: “Things are picking up pace with the regeneration of the town centre, and the Notice of Entry being served to businesses in the northern area of the town centre is the next step in making the new town centre a reality.

“The CPO was confirmed by the Secretary of State in 2008 and to reach this point is a big achievement. We have been talking about the CPO with businesses in the town centre for a very long time now, so this should come as no surprise to them.

“The council and BRP are 100 per cent committed to the scheme and have been working hard behind the scenes to develop a town centre which the people of Bracknell Forest can be proud of.

“With recent announcements from Marks & Spencer and Cineworld, we are looking forward to further news soon.”

Tenants received different notices in December 2012 which terminated their tenancies without the use of CPO powers.

A CPO is a legal power which allows the council to obtain land or property without the consent of the owner.

Other premises needed to be vacated for the later phases of the regeneration, including Charles Square, will be served notices at a later stage.

Once the council has acquired premises in the northern part, they will be transferred to the council’s development partner BRP.

Plans for the regeneration of Bracknell include new retail space for shops and restaurants in the northern part of the town.

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6

You have to wonder why Winchester House has survived, it seems the owners are Teflon coated when it comes to councils. No doubt at some stage in the future they will put in a planning application which will make a mockery of planning regulations and it will go through on the nod just to get the building sorted. Interesting thread here http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=84296&st=0

timespassing
16/02/2013 at 22:55

Shame the CPOs didn't include Winchester House.

The Watcher, Berkshire
15/02/2013 at 16:16

This is getting better and better by the day... I cannot wait to see the bulldozers starting to tear down the Northern part of the Town Centre to begin with!

PRB, Bracknell
15/02/2013 at 15:32

Theres nothing I've wanted to see more in my life than the demolition of some of the buildings down Crossway/Broadway

WhySoSerious, Bracknell
15/02/2013 at 15:29

Let Bracknell rise up like the phoenix and give the good citizens a town they deserve. Let this be a regeneration not just of bricks, mortar, and countless ways to empty your wallet, but a regeneration of Bracknell's very being.