A number of big decisions have been made on planning applications throughout Bracknell Forest this week.
The biggest news is that the Royal Hunt pub in Ascot will be demolished to make way for flats.
As well as that, the huge Blue Mountain development will be getting a community centre and health centre after a plan was approved.
A series of other plans were decided on in the week.
READ MORE: Exciting new 'Golfplex' at Blue Mountain in Bracknell opens
The decisions were made during a virtual advisory planning committee meeting on Thursday, July 15, which went on until 11pm.
During the meeting, the councillors only had the power to approve plans if they are in line with the officers recommendation. If the committee of councillors disagreed with the recommendation, the plans have to be discussed at a physical meeting of the committee.
Below you can see all the plans that were approved at the virtual meeting.
Ascot pub will be demolished to make way for flats (20/00001/FUL)
The Royal Hunt pub in Ascot will be demolished to make way for eight flats.
Plans to build nine flats to replace the pub were previously thrown out by the planning inspectorate in part because they involved cutting down a protected oak tree.
The latest plan retained the tree, however it was still controversial due to the loss of the pub.
Indeed, some councillors on Bracknell’s planning committee were disappointed that the pub would be lost, and raised concerns over lack of parking and traffic safety.
However, councillors opposed to the plan were outvoted seven to four, with two abstentions.
New community and health centre for Blue Mountain development (21/00459/3)
People living in the Blue Mountain development in Binfield will benefit from a new community and health centre after a plan was approved by Bracknell Forest Council.
The centre will serve the community on the site of the old golf course, which was earmarked for development in 2016.
READ MORE: 'Gutting': Nursery closes its doors for good making way for new housing development
The centre will provide a range of facilities and spaces to support community functions and activities including sport, leisure, group use, as well as a venue for weddings and parties. A GP surgery will be built into the two-storey building, with its own entrance to give some separation from the wider community centre.
The plan was approved by all councillors other than Cllr Tricia Brown (Labour) who abstained.
Timber hoardings will be put up around Bracknell planned development (20/00622/FUL)
Danescroft Land Ltd have successfully applied to retain and put up timber hoardings an area of land which could see housing and a care home be built on it.
The developers have applied to build a 70 bedroom care home and 55 homes on the land, which is the subject of Bracknell planning application 20/00947/FUL.
However, this time the developers only applied to build and maintain the timber hoardings to deter trespassers for 24 months.
New EE mast will go up in Bracknell (21/00545/RTD)
A new EE mast with 5G capabilities will go up in Bracknell.
The mast is being built next to the playing fields in Calfridus Way, and will support internet connectivity for those using South Western Railway train services and EE customers.
It will also serve as part of a new 4G Emergency Services Network (“ESN”) that will replace the airwave radios that emergency services use. These services include Thames Valley Police, the Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service and the South Central Ambulance Service.
Seven new parking spaces in Bracknell estate (21/00008/3)
The council successfully applied to make seven new parking spaces at the Aysgarth estate in Bracknell.
The spaces will replace grassland at the estate, and stretch across two locations.
Four more parking spaces were created at one location and three more were created at a separate location in the estate.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here