News

Regeneration strategy to be submitted next year

July 26, 2010

A strategy for the long-awaited regeneration of Bracknell town centre will not be formally submitted until March next year at the earliest.

Bracknell Forest Council says work is well underway on plans to regenerate the town centre but it would be “inappropriate” to publish detailed information until next spring.

The Bracknell Town Centre Regeneration Strategy appears in the council’s executive forward plan – a document detailing timescales for a range of corporate issues, which was considered by the council’s overview and scrutiny commission at a meeting on Thursday, July 15.

All the other items in the report have an exact decision date identified next to them but the regeneration strategy says ‘not before 29 Mar 2011’.

A council spokesman said: “The comment could simply read ‘March 2011’ as this is the target date.

“However, adding the words ‘not before’ is intended to highlight that, whilst there is considerable work underway to enable the town centre regeneration to be brought forward as quickly as possible in the current economic circumstances, it is inappropriate to publish such a document while commercially sensitive work is underway.

“Hence the words ‘not before’ were added and it is intended that the work will remain in draft until matters are finalised and it is appropriate to publish.”

The spokesman said work on the strategy is already underway and will continue up to the publication of the document.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (4)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 4 of 4

Show 15 | 25 | 50 per page

Bracknell planners are more interested in building thousands of houses ........ the flowers always look nice though.

This town strategy has been going on for as long as I can remember..........maybe the strategy is to continue to pay for expensive employees to continue planning strategies for ever?

Vic

Vic Youel, Binfield
28/07/2010 at 04:17

If you build it, they will come!

Brad From-Birch Hill, Bracknell
27/07/2010 at 09:47

Considering the amount of businesses in bracknell you'd think they would have done this sooner. I remember the council saying this was going to start in 2006...

Think of it this way, you have to spend money to MAKE money, once it is completed I bet people will turn up because the location is good.

The Illusive Man
26/07/2010 at 12:56

What a joke. Bracknell is well overdue for major regeneration, particularly the town centre. It is categorically the worst town centre in the South East region, in terms of design and condition/quality. To quote Liberal Democrat Ray Earwicker “Bracknell town centre is really a blight on the South East”.

The place is squalled and literally falling apart and many of the buildings aren’t looked after at all well (smashed windows, dirty, rotting wood, broken concrete). Much of the town centre looks as though no one cares. Sending out such a message can only be to the detriment of the community and the town. How many residents of Bracknell can say hand on heart they are proud of their town?

Why is it taking Bracknell so long over the issue, when so many other towns in the area have been very successfully regenerated over the past 15 years? Are the citizens of Bracknell less worthy of decent amenities, as this is what it feels like.

My worry is that this will go on and on, without any action, as has been the case for decades. I am sure the funding is also now at jeopardy with all the budget and grant cuts. If Bracknell Forest Council does not commit soon I fear that funding will be reduced and the redevelopment of the town centre ultimately compromised.