A plan to convert offices in Bracknell town centre into 150 apartments are set for approval.
UPDATE: the conversion of the Atrium Court offices has been approved
The owners of Atrium Court in Bracknell have applied to convert the seven storey block of offices into a mix of studio apartments and one bedroom flats.
Of the 150 apartments, 102 would be studio apartments and 48 would be one bedroom flats.
Although all of the flats will be for one person, all facilities are contained within one room in studio apartments (with a separate toilet and wash room), whereas one bedroom flats have a separate bedroom area which is closed off from a kitchen and living room.
READ MORE: What we know about 377 flats plan at Bracknell Beeches site
Parking would be provided within three existing basement levels in the building which provides 135 spaces. Of those, 11 would be used to for electric vehicle charging, and 15 would be reserved for disabled access. There would also be 163 bike storage spaces and a refuse store would be provided on the basement levels.
The project is being undertaken by Hart Investments Limited.
It is due to be discussed at a a virtual advisory meeting of Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee on Thursday, September 16.
The committee cannot refuse the plan, as it has been submitted for prior approval, which means Hart Investments have to seek approval from Bracknell Forest Council that specified elements of the development are acceptable before work can proceed.
So the fact that Atrium Court will be converted into flats is guaranteed.
However, the committee can assess what impact the office conversion will have on traffic and transport, contamination and flooding issues, any noise impact which could affect future occupiers of the apartments and whether enough light would be provided.
If none of these issues present a problem, the conversion can go ahead under planning rules known as ‘permitted development’.
READ MORE: Plan to build 169 flats at Bracknell's former bus station
None of the council’s consultees -the council’s highways authority, waste management authority, and Thames Water- have provided any objection to the plan.
The council’s Environmental Health Officer has recommended imposing conditions on the plan relating to noise from external sources and from plant and machinery that will be used in the building.
You can view designs for the conversion of Atrium Court in full by typing reference 21/00763/PAC into Bracknell Forest Council’s planning portal here: https://planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/online-applications/ .
There, you will find the layout for each of the floors of the building. There will be no changes to the exterior of Atrium Court as part of the plans.
Atrium Court next to the Braccan Walk Car Park and St Josephs Roman Catholic Church.
A similar application for prior approval was submitted for the L’avenir building in Opladen Way. L’avenir was converted from offices into 69 flats in 2017. Its developers wanted to add 35 apartments and two floors to the building, but the council’s planning committee decided to defer prior approval of the plan until the developers submit detailed evidence of what they will do to mitigate the impact of the scheme on current residents and neighbours.
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