BULLDOZERS are set to knock down the town’s Commercial Centre in a £4.6 million redevelopment of the site.

The council-owned space, off Old Bracknell Lane, is said to be in a “very poor state of repair”.

It costs the authority around £350,000 a year to maintain, according to newly published council budget documents, which revealed Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) plans to demolish all existing buildings at the site and turn the space into a depot.

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The cost of this redevelopment is predicted to reach £4.6 million over the course of the next three years, with new offices and workshops set to be built once the demolition is complete.

The BFC report read: “There are a number of significant health and safety issues arising from the existing layout of the site which is no longer fit for the purpose in ensuring the safe movement and circulation of heavy vehicles and plant around the site.

Bracknell News:

“As the town has grown there has been more requirement for depot facilities to support more roads and housing areas. This is particularly the case for highway maintenance, and it has been necessary to use the Market Street site as another highways depot.

“The reconfiguration of the depot is therefore also required in order to vacate Market Street for future redevelopment as part of Joint Venture Project.

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“Other newly identified needs that require additional depot space include storage for new vehicles which are required for highways use and for waste collection.

“The proposal is for the demolition of all existing buildings on the site except for the landscape sheds, and the construction of new offices and workshops.

“The proposed scheme shows a simple workshop structure at the eastern end of the site, divided for the use of the three contractors.”

Should these plans go ahead, the reduced size and the modern design of the new buildings will mean lower running and maintenance costs for BFC.

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Council chiefs estimate a potential annual running and maintenance savings of £120,000.

This plan has been earmarked as a future project as outlined in BFC’s draft capital budget proposals, which are set for consultation and approval in the coming weeks and months.