Bracknell's population grew last year as residents across the UK chose to move to the area amid a growing demand for housing.

It comes as Bracknell Forest Council unveiled its local draft plan for more affordable housing by 2037 with more housing requirements needed for older people in the borough.

The Local Plan outlines that big sites earmarked for development will need to contribute towards a range of ‘attractive housing options for older people.’

Objections, however, continue to flood in against controversial plans to build nearly 200 homes in the countryside amid worries Bracknell Forest is being “suffocated” by housing developments.

The demand for more housing is there as newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the numbers of people moving to Bracknell are growing.

While the ONS figures are up to June 2020, it gives us an indication that the county’s population is steadily rising and likely to rise further due to homebuyers seeking more rural areas than urban areas.

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Their data looks at where people have moved from one local authority area to another, so we cannot specifically examine say whether or not for example, how many people from Middlesbrough have moved to Binfield.

A broad look at the data shows that people are moving to the county from other areas of the South East.

The interesting factor is that Berkshire residents are moving locally but staying within the county, with many relocating to Bracknell Forest Council areas from places like Slough, Reading and Windsor and Maidenhead.

Where people are moving to Bracknell Forest from

Across Bracknell Forest, 6,731 people moved to the county.

The top areas that people moved from to the Bracknell Council area include:

  • Scotland - 44
  • Reading - 225
  • Windsor and Maidenhead - 683
  • Wokingham - 646
  • Hart - 199
  • Buckinghamshire - 213
  • Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole - 49
  • Wiltshire - 34
  • Cornwall - 29
  • Southampton - 54
  • Brighton and Hove -39
  • Portsmouth - 38
  • Slough - 350
  • West Berkshire - 82
  • Swindon - 22
  • Plymouth - 22
  • Bristol - 32
  • Bath and North East Somerset - 29
  • Nottingham - 29
  • Scotland - 44
  • Cardiff - 31
  • Wandsworth - 55
  • Richmond upon Thames - 90
  • Hounslow - 253
  • Hillingdon - 222
  • Hammersmith and Fulham - 44
  • Ealing - 94
  • Birmingham - 51
  • Surrey Heath - 270
  • Spelthorne - 224
  • Runnymede - 198
  • Guildford - 80
  • Oxford - 51

"Beautiful countryside and excellent transport links" - Why are people moving to Berkshire

Tom Parker, consumer spokesperson at Zoopla believed that due to the coronavirus pandemic and businesses reevaluating workplace environments, people are seeking more rural areas to live in, namely Berkshire.

He added that due to its scenery, it's no surprise that the county is seeing an influx of new residents.

Tom Parker, Zoopla Consumer spokesperson said: “With its lively towns, beautiful countryside and excellent transport links it’s no surprise that home hunters are increasingly deciding to move to Berkshire.

"The county offers a wide variety of housing stock with mega-mansions, fixer-uppers and everything in-between but with prices on the increase we’d urge potential buyers to make their move soon.”