Bracknell: plan to replace Catholic church with flats emerges

The Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is planning to build 15 apartments at the former St Margaret Clitherow Roman Catholic Church in Ringmead.

The apartments would be contained in a five-storey block, and would comprise of six one-bedroom and nine two-bedroom apartments within the building.

Of the 15 apartments, three apartments would be reserved for affordable rent, and one would be reserved for shared ownership, making a total of four affordable homes.

A total of 27 car parking spaces are also included in the plans, as well as cycle and motorcycle storage.

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The plan is being considered by Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee because six objections have been received.

Objections have been raised over the scale of the five-storey building, the proximity to neighbouring homes, loss of trees, risk of flooding and impact on wildlife.

However, planning officer Simon Roskilly rebuffed many of these objections.

The nature of the five-storey building was not judged as overbearing, with Mr Rosklilly pointing out that  the only building next door to the site is the Church of the Latter Day Saints, immediately east of the site in Ringmead, Hanworth.

Although there are homes in Claverdon, on the opposite side of Ringmead, planners concluded these neighbours would not be adversely affected, as the new apartments will be surrounded by existing trees.

A digital image of the apartment block from above. The council's tree officer has raised no objection to the plan. Credit: Bracknell Planning Application 20/00077/FUL

On the issue of the new build posing a flood risk, the Lead Local Flood Authority stated that the site is in a very low risk of surface water flooding, according to Environmental Agency data. The authority has raised no objections to the plan, on the condition that a suitable drainage plan is drawn up.

The council’s tree officer has also raised no objection, as the proposal does not mention cutting down trees and instead sees the existing trees retained to provide a wooded circle around the site.

To mitigate the impact on wildlife, the council’s Biodiversity Officer has suggested that nests and bat boxes be placed on the new building and suitable trees, including the installation of ‘insect hotels’ and ‘bug boxes’, that natural buffer areas within the woodland areas of the site be retained, and that gravel boards or gaps be built into any proposed fencing on the site for hedgehogs.

Planning officer Simon Roskilly has recommended that the plan should be granted subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement.

A  Section 106 Legal Agreement is an agreement between the developer and the council which often involves the developer paying the council money to be reinvested in council services that benefit the community.

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It is not the first time a plan for the old church site has been lodged.

A similar application to build 14 homes on the site was withdrawn by the applicant in 2019.

The church was closed in 2011 and demolished in 2012.

At the time, the church was the repeated target of copper thieves whole stole the material from the church roof.

The site as it looks at the moment. The church was demolished in 2012, its only neighbour being the Church of LDS to its right. Credit: Google Maps

It is understood much of the congregation moved to attend the Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Braccan Walk, Bracknell town centre.

The plan has been submitted by Hilary Foley, Director of Estates for the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth.

You can view the plans in full by enter planning reference 20/00077/FUL at https://planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/online-applications/

The fate of the plan is due to be decided by the council's planning committee on Thursday, April 22.