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Plans for 311 flats in Winchester House were thrown out after the developers failed to meet a deadline for a piece of vital paperwork
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What Does Bracknell Think? Winchester House

July 27, 2012

Plans for the redevelopment of Winchester House, the old 3M building, were thrown out last week.

We asked our panel what they thought about this, whether they liked the designs and if they would like to see the building replaced.

"3M building" plans thrown out

Winkfield artist Jonathan Greenyer: “What a totally farcical and idiotic situation to get into. From the article it seems Vincent Haines, head of development management at Bracknell Forest Council (BFC), does not want the building work to go ahead.

“Why on earth did he not make more strenuous efforts to find out why the critical paperwork was not forthcoming in the ‘21 days since he (Haines) wrote them a letter’? Sounds like bureaucracy gone mad. Maybe we need a new head of development for BFC.

“Something certainly needs to be done on the 3M site, but this news item is just further confirmation that Bracknell’s redevelopment is unlikely to proceed according to plan, any plan, because we simply don’t have the skills in our council to organise building a shed in a field let alone a new town centre.”

The Reverend Michael Bentley, chairman of the Bracknell Forest Society: “I can’t say that I am disappointed that those particular plans were thrown out because, judging by the photo of the model, it would replace an ugly tall rectangular-shaped building with an ugly jagged one.

“Certainly if the builders did not show how their plans would conform to an Environmental Impact Assessment statement, then planning permission must be refused.

“It’s a great pity that things are going to be delayed further because the old 3M building looks more tired and drab as each month passes. One thing is imperative – we don’t want yet more buildings housing empty office spaces; we have far too many of those lying idle already.”

Pat Kennewell of Birch Hill and Hanworth Liaison Group: “I worked in this building for many happy years.

“It is so sad to see it reduced to this state. Apparently the proposed plans needed an Environmental Impact Assessment, which was late being submitted. The impact of the eyesore on the environment, ie Bracknell, is enormous. It looks so unsightly and depresses the area in general.

“The new design looks innovative and has a variety of options for use. Hopefully it will attract many companies into the Bracknell area.

Hazel Kent, manager of the Market Cafe in Bracknell: “On the one hand, I am disappointed the building isn’t going but, on the other, it does at least mean the market is safe for a little longer.

“What we need now is for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership and the council to make real plans for the market rather than waiting for the next lot of plans to be put in and possibly passed.

“Act now and it will save the same thing happening in the future of a mild panic (I don’t believe anyone other than the traders would have a major panic) as to where to re-locate the market at short notice. We have had a lucky escape this time, but next time could be different.”

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Most recent user comments 11 of 11

Thank you Winstanley. I just had to say something but as per usual it turned into a book. I agree with what everyone has said, especially pulling the 3M down. Lock ups for the traders would be a good idea and of course, a purpose built market cafe would be a must. I am proud of the service we give at the cafe and I don’t think there is anywhere else in the town where you can get home cooked meals, cakes and other food for the prices we charge. We aren’t greedy and would rather people come back each week and we make little profit rather than charging the earth and only seeing people every month. Most of the traders have their regular clients and the reason for that? The personal service they give is in general far better than you would receive in many stores in the town. Our customers are who pays our rent and pay our wages so we strive to keep them.

We all want the building brought down and are crying out for BRP and the council to talk to us. We still haven’t had our promised answers and at this present moment in time, I have run out of fight. I am sick of all the hard work we have put in and all the hours of writing to get nothing. Then the council wonder why the people of Bracknell aren’t happy. At least when Graeme was town centre manager he would make the effort to come to the market most Friday’s to touch base with us all. Now we have nobody who appears to want to help us or the town. Words are all very well and good but actions speak a hell of a lot louder.

Re Comer, my ex husband did some web digging and came up with loads about them. Here are a couple of sites http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16688:nakawa-naguru-land-sold-at-10&catid=78:topstories&Itemid=116 http://echwaluphotography.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/children-evicted-from-nakawanaguru-estates/

Lovely people.

HK, bracknell
03/08/2012 at 19:06

Can't see why they can''t just knock it down anyway as it is an eyesore.

The market traders would really add to Princess Square by having stalls much the same as the Queensmere as adds to the shopping experience

In the summer (weather dependent of course!) they could have the market outside where the 3M building was

If nothing else the land would be ready for redevelopment

CMK
01/08/2012 at 10:28

S.215 of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990) provides local authorities with an additional, discretionary power for requiring landowners to clean up 'land adversely affecting the amenity of the neighbourhood'. Local authorities also have powers to undertake clean up works themselves under s.215 and to recover costs from the landowner. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/157881.pdf

Why dont our bone idle councillors demand this?

Crimson Dawn, Bracknell
31/07/2012 at 22:30

It's just the same at Westmorland House in Bristol. Comer have left it derilicy for 25 years. http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/year-riots-Tesco-praised-Stokes-Croft-Bristol/story-15746826-detail/story.html

One suspects that the saga is just beginning at Newlands Park... http://chalfontstpeter.buckinghamshireadvertiser.co.uk/2012/03/newland-park-plans-revealed-at.html

Sandyandy, Warfield
31/07/2012 at 16:17

If anyone's interested - Comer Homes are owned and run by two brothers, and three subsidiaries they own have gone into administration owing a consortium of banks £167m due to the collapse in the luxury apartment market (their field of endeavour).

http://business.highbeam.com/410162/article-1G1-265030537/luxury-flats-prove-too-rich-comer-brothers-comer-homes

Winstanley, Bracknell
30/07/2012 at 20:18

Hear hear HK - well said! I agree completely with every single word of what you've said.

Comer homes never intended to develop - funny how plans got drawn up for development once a CPO was threatened.

Brunel-Walker is going the same way as Helen Barnett - swanning around making the right noises but delivering absolute zero for the citizens and traders of Bracknell.

I take your point about a traveling market and the need for established traders to have somewhere to store their goods.

Surely though, a traveling market centrally located would attract more custom as it would be highly visible - unlike the current market. I imagine most visitors to Bracknell can see Winchester House looming over the town centre and think it's a part of town best avoided, if not completely derelict.

Is there not a third way? Established, existing traders offered secure lock-ups? This is what happens in Berwick Street market in Soho.

I'm 100% supportive of the Bracknell market - we do need new blood, from the top down as far as BFC and BRP go. But perhaps everyone involved in this alleged regeneration - I mean everyone - needs to think the unthinkable and be prepared for negotiation and compromise to actually get this thing done.

Winstanley, Bracknell
30/07/2012 at 20:00

Part 2

I do understand why people are fed up about hearing about the market but if it were their friends and families having such a cloud over their future jobs then it would be different. We are all fed up. Not a trading day goes by when we aren’t asked about the future of the market. Another comment made by someone else saying about having the market outside for a travelling market is all well and good but what about the traders who couldn’t possibly take all their stock home each day? The market has been where it is for years and is home to stalls which have grown into the market. I could go outside with a burger van (not that I have the kind of money that’s needed for such a van) but that would mean I couldn’t serve up the homemade meals, cakes and goodies that I do now. The idea of a travelling market is wonderful but if it were that great an idea, do you not think the people who “travel” around with their stalls would have used our market already? Half of Bracknell residents don’t even know the market exists so why should a travelling market know? We do need more stalls but for that to happen we need a good town to bring people in and a council who are willing to help us. Until the hell hole of what is meant to be a town is sorted out, the market will carry on dying along with the town. Even Wokingham has an indoor market now.

So, for all those who think Bracknell Market is a dive with no stalls, why not put your money where your mouth is and run a stall yourselves? It’s not expensive and stalls can be had on a daily basis. We need more people to take up the offer and get our market filled again. Anyone can come along and give it a try. We need things like clothes, music, cheese, bread, shoes and anything else that’s going to get people in. A market is only as good as the people who use it and trade in it and if either of those elements are missing, it’s a struggle for everyone.

HK, bracknell
30/07/2012 at 16:10

Part 1 I would like to comment (as I usually do). There have been comments (in other papers) of people getting sick of hearing about the market and our objections. I am a trader and I think I speak for the majority of us in saying we DO NOT OBJECT to the whole idea of the building being knocked down and got rid of. In fact, we would welcome it. It is an eyesore which is no doubt an environmental health hazard with the probable thousands and thousands of birds that have been able to get into the condemned building, excrete everywhere and then die. Comer should be forced to sort that out if nothing else. I am lead to believe with what I have read about the company that they are broke anyway. In my opinion, they aren’t going to build even if they do get permission. All they want is for planning to be granted so they can then sell the land as a going concern. They thought they were going to make a quick profit on that place when they bought it but didn’t realise what a Joana it was.

What we are frustrated about is the lip service we receive from both Bracknell council and BRP. We are constantly being told that they want to keep a market in Bracknell and how they want it to be an indoor market. We gave Councillor Brunel-Walker a list of questions and a month ago we were told by him that they have the answers for us. We are still waiting. That's all we ever do is wait. That's all anyone who lives in Bracknell ever does regarding the town is wait. In my opinion, Bracknell BRP should be re-vamped with new members on the board and new blood brought in. How many more thousands of pounds are going to be wasted on plans and exhibitions to show said plans off only for them to yet again be scrapped?

HK, bracknell
30/07/2012 at 16:07

The design was far to tall.

High rise buildings should not have a place in Bracknells future.

Just because there had been one there before is no reason why there should be one there in future. Just as at some point in time, the planning for that parcel of land was altered to allow a tall building, it is time again for the permission to be changed to not allow a tall building.

Property speculators bought the building on speculation, they have let it go to rack and ruin, they have allowed it to become a blot on our landscape, they do not car about us, so why should we care about them. They have no right to profit from their inactions

We should not give in to blackmail, we should kick back and show them that they have to be responsible owners if they want to have public support. We should also show the 1% that they are not in charge and that they do not have the right to profit from our town.

Greed should not be rewarded.

The plans were fine as long as you took out 12 floors of the building.

Wiztwas, Binfield
29/07/2012 at 07:57

The question really is, who is at fault for this debacle? The planning Office for rejecting the proposal because they are unable to accept or work with any deviation to their rules, or the developer for not complying and sending their paperwork in on time. The Planning Office should hold their heads in shame for not finding a way to overcome a hardly insurmountable problem, and questions have been and must continue to be asked as to the reliability of this developer, who has maintained such a monstrous carbuncle in the centre of the town for so many years. None of this bodes well for our long awaited and much heralded “regeneration”. Mind you the artists impressions were quite nice and will add well to the rest of the collection in the empty shops.