Will Greggs open in Sandhurst? Bakery plans delayed

This proposal was just one of a number of interesting applications on the agenda for Bracknell Forest Council’s (BFC) planning committee earlier this week.

For full details of each planning application, enter the planning reference at planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk

Plans for a Greggs in Sandhurst (planning reference: 20/00022/FUL)

The bakery is set to open at 39 Yorktown Road, where the former Natwest bank is.

READ MORE: Why people are opposing plans for a new Greggs in Sandhurst

Proposals have been in place since January and the only thing Greggs bosses are waiting for is planning permission from BFC.

This was expected to be granted at the planning committee on Thursday, June 18, but was unexpectedly taken off the agenda.

BFC says this is because the restaurant’s designers are now preparing extra highways information to present to planning bosses to build their case for approval.

This comes after eight objections from neighbours who raised concerns about a lack of parking spaces, more traffic on the roads and congestion on the adjacent slip road.

A new home in Winkfield Row (19/01031/FUL)

This proposal would have seen developers build a new home at the back of two cottages in the village.

READ MORE: Controversial plans for 20 homes at abandoned garden centre approved

Melanie Andrews, who lives at Mushroom Castle Cottage on Chavey Down Road which is next door to Eggleton Cottage and Poplar Cottage and which is where the new home would have been built had councillors not refused the plan earlier this week.

Ms Andrews raised concerns about access from a private driveway which was too narrow to fit emergency vehicles down it, the overbearing nature of the development, and trees not being protected.

She said: “This is a clear case of backyard, insensitive overdevelopment.

“The local community opposes this.”

Councillors Moira Gaw and Dorothy Hayes led the charge against the application, claiming it was “unneighbourly” and “inappropriate” respectively.

17 councillors voted in favour of refusing the plan, with one abstaining.

An extension on a property in Ascot (20/00195/FUL)

BFC’s planning committee also refused this application for an extension to the front, rear and side of a home at The Close in Ascot.

Eight objections to the application were received, with the most common themes in letters sent to the council being the overdevelopment of the plot.

Cllr Dorothy Hayes agreed, saying it was an “extension on an extension on an extension.”

The planning committee unanimously refused the proposal.

Four homes in Bracknell (20/00266/FUL)

Developers have had an application for four new homes at Sunnymead in Jocks Lane approved.

This proposal is very similar to a previous proposal which was approved last year for three homes and a bungalow in the same place.

The only difference with this plan is the upgrade of the bungalow to another house — all of which would be three-bedrooms.

Councillors approved the plan unanimously but took away applicants’ permitted development rights, which are a national grant of permission to undertake building works at a site without having to submit a planning application.

A fence along the A3095 (20/00284/3)

Councillors also approved a plan to add a 159-metre-long acoustic fence alongside the A3095 last night despite a slight hiccup.

READ MORE: Why the A3095 Northbound will be closed for 12 weeks

Dale Birch, a BFC planning committee member, asked why designs had not included another fence on the other side of the road to protect residents from noise and disturbance.

A planning officer said there was no need for this provision yet.

Improvement works to the A3095 northbound got underway on Monday, June 15 lasting for 12 weeks.

A new fence will protect homeowners along the western side of the road.