Bracknell: EE 4G phone mast plans rejected by council

This is one of four interesting planning decisions made by the council at a planning meeting earlier this week. 

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

Phone mast plans refused (planning reference: 20/00303/FUL)

Network giant EE had been hoping to build a new mast by Harmans Water playing fields, 150 metres from The Wayz youth centre off Calfridus Way.

They wanted to add the 27-metres-high structure to improve their coverage for rail passengers on South Western Rail trains. 

But the scheme came up against opposition as 31 residents objected to the plans for a variety of reasons. 

Many were concerned about supposed health issues associated with phone masts, but international guidelines stating the mast is safe meant this concern could not be considered as a planning issue. 

Instead, the application was refused after Harmans Water representative Chris Turrell rallied to get the application thrown out on grounds it would spoil the character of the area. 

He said: “The proposed choice and treatment of materials would make the mast unduly conspicuous. Its height, at 27m, would significantly exceed that of all the nearby woodland, producing a prominent and overbearing effect. This would spoil the character and visual amenities of the area. 

“Furthermore, Calfridus Way Playing Field is a proposed local green space under policy EV3 of the Bracknell Town Neighbourhood Plan. A mast of this prominence and in this position would not enhance the role and function of this space.”

Councillors voted to refuse the plan, despite protests from Cllr Thomas Parker who said the reasons for refusal would not hold up at an appeal. 

27 new homes at 3M site (19/01004/OUT)

Initial plans to add more than two dozen new homes by the site of multinational tech company 3M on Cain Road were given the go-ahead at this week’s planning meeting. 

The new living spaces will go up where a sports pavilion, tennis courts and a parking area currently stand, all of which have been disused for a number of years. 

A quarter of the new homes would be made affordable. 

Binfield Parish Council objected to the plan on the grounds this site is a designated employment area. 
Eight residents also opposed the designs complaining of more traffic on the roads, a loss of privacy from the new homes, and safety worries regarding access onto Cain Road and Turnpike Road. 

Councillor Patricia Brown joined residents in sharing the access concerns, but she was the only councillor who voted against the scheme as her colleagues voted overwhelmingly in favour of the plan.  

Changes to flats plan at former bus depot site (20/00072/FUL)

As revealed by the News earlier this week, concerns had been raised by a councillor and Bracknell Town Council about proposed alterations to already-approved plans to build 242 flats at a new estate named The Grand Exchange just off Market Street in Bracknell. 

The changes included reducing the height of the building by cutting space between floors, creative five more two-bed apartments from five one-bed apartments and adding more air vents. 

But it was switching the planned projecting balconies with Juliet balconies and removing an external green wall with planting that concerned Cllr Dee Hamilton and Bracknell Town Council. 

Despite Cllr Dale Birch and Patricia Brown also voicing their concerns over the changes, namely the reduced height of the building, councillors agreed there was no substantial reason to refuse these plans. 

All planning committee members voted in favour of the designs at the meeting, which took place on Thursday, November 12

305 homes in Warfield (20/00214/OUT) 

Councillors were also asked to vote on plans for these new homes in the Warfield countryside at the meeting. 

Click above to read about the outcome of the decision.