News

Green light for phased building of Bracknell town centre

By Becky Barnes
October 19, 2012

A new Bracknell town centre is in sight after councillors backed plans to build the development in phases.

However, officers had to amend plans at last minute yesterday when the War Memorial, in Stanley Walk, became listed meaning further reports will have to assess the impact of the application on a protected monument.

Bracknell Forest Council's planning committee last night approved the reworked proposals taking into account the changes.

Changes to regeneration plan up for discussion

The original plan, dating back to 2004, was to build a shopping centre in one phase but officers recommended it was more commercially viable in the economic climate to build the town in stages.

The plans have been changed from an ‘enclosed centre to open streets’.

Councillor Chris Turrell said: "A phased development might seem frustrating to people.

"Rather than front page news it might be a spot the difference competition when it gets reported but we need to press on with this."

Councillor Tony Virgo and Councillor Tricia Brown raised their concerns that the bus station will be too far from the rail station but both backed the plans.

Chairman Councillor Colin Dudley said it was 'a waste of time' to bring this up at this stage and said the rail station would be served by a bus stop a few yards away.

Cllr Dudley added: "We need to phase this now and we need to get it going."

Yesterday Marks & Spencer confirmed it had signed a pre-let on an 80,000 sq ft department store in Bracknell town centre, which is due to open in three years.

Marks & Spencer coming to new Bracknell

Cineworld confirmed last month they had signed a lease to come to Bracknell.

Cineworld 'major step forward' for regeneration

For more see next week's Bracknell Forest Standard.

Rumours of names coming to Bracknell

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Most recent user comments 2 of 2

We are not being told the whole story - nor were the BFC Planning committee on Thursday - M&S wasn't mentioned.

The overall Town centre plan is much changed since it started as `a great deal for Bracknell with new council offices built before a massive shopping mall in the Broadway' .

The 48 page document for to the planning committee has lots of planning details but it was difficult to see the overall picture other than various rather significant changes since last time.

Meanwhile in the real world the Peel centre thrives - perhaps because you can park next the shops free, and online shopping is causing the `national chains' to close town centre shops. See the empty shops in Bracknell.

To me the `lots of big retail' driven plan is outdated. Why not change the overall plan? Or is what going on just inducements to get anything moving?

It looks that the planned new M&S store involves closing the inner ring road (as a local resident I think that is daft). I guess BFC are paying for all the roads changes. Is that what local residents want?

At the Planning meeting questions were asked about the plans for the bus station - an aspect much questioned by residents in earlier consultations - but it is still being moved away from near the railway station.

And the planning committee were told something vague about a `health building' on the Skimped Hill site - wheras the local `healthspace' and `Urgent Care Centre' is now going into Brants Bridge. That will need a good local bus service - from a central bus station. The plans have of extensions to make bigger shops at the expense of public open space. Our Council seems stuck on a 2003 `vision' and cling on hoping will now be `delivered in stages'. I think we need to change the plan to be more about people and services.

Lots of effort has been spent and commercial deals entered into for the regeneration, but where are we now? We should be told!

Newtowner, Priestwood
21/10/2012 at 21:35

Will buses from all areas of Bracknell including outlying areas stop at the bus stop close to the station? Although I live in Wokingham I use Bracknell station because of its convenience for buses from Wokingham. I hope this situation will not change.