AROUND 1,400 affordable homes could be built in Jealott’s Hill if new plans get the go-ahead.

The new homes would be part of a 4,000 home development at Jealott’s Hill in Warfield, meaning 35 per cent of dwellings will be affordable - 10 per cent higher than BFC’s current requirement for this allocation.

This comes as Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) is asking residents for their thoughts on an updated local plan which now includes greater provision for cheaper homes.

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Councillor Chris Turrell, executive member for Planning and Transport at BFC, said: “This is a really important plan as it sets out the council’s approach to where new neighbourhoods can be created over the next 16 years based on land supply, residents’ feedback and many other factors.

“There are some significant changes, including the real possibility of creating a new all-encompassing neighbourhood at Jealott’s Hill, so it’s important that we capture feedback on the plans from our residents so that it shapes the borough’s physical future.”

The Jealott’s Hill site is 240 hectares and is currently used as a research facility by multi-national tech company Syngenta, but some of the research typically undertaken at the site is no longer required.

A new development is proposed for 4,000 homes as, according to a council report, future operations at the site depend on development to help fund it.

Two new primary schools, a new secondary school, recreational space, a community hub, a healthcare facility and more infrastructure would join the new homes if plans are made a reality.

Should these plans go ahead, green belt boundaries would have to be amended and the first houses could be ready by 2027, with housing development work expected to be completed by 2049.

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Andrew Purcell, Head of Real Estate at Syngenta, said: “This is an exciting opportunity that would secure the future of Jealott’s Hill as a destination for world-leading science and innovation, providing jobs for the next generation of scientists working together to address global challenges.

“A sustainable garden village community, alongside state-of-the-art business space will provide the opportunity for the next generation to live, work, learn, play and grow on the site, supported by a wealth of schools, healthcare, leisure and sport facilities.”

Consultations on BFC’s draft local plan took place in February 2018 and September 2018 but comments received by the authority and new national planning rules means BFC wants to ask for residents’ views again to take the borough’s ‘future needs’ into account.

Earlier versions of the draft local plan suggested 670 homes needed to be built in the borough every year, but this rate has now fallen to 615 annually - this means 10,455 new dwellings could go up across Bracknell Forest by 2036.

Some sites identified to accommodate some of these new homes have now been removed from the draft plan after feedback from residents, including two sites in Winkfield and two spaces in Binfield.

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New areas included in the updated proposals include spots in Sandhurst and two sites in Bracknell, with one being at the bus station on Station Road.

There is ‘no need for additional office space’ according to a council report detailing the changes made, but land at Hewlett Packard, Cain Road, has been removed from consideration for potential housing due to need for employment land.

BFC’s top team is expected to approve plans to go ahead with the next round of consultation on Tuesday, September 24, which would run from 25 October to December 6 if given the green light.