The Bracknell Town Neighbourhood Plan that will act as a blueprint for development in the area for the next 15 years has been adopted.

Voters in Bracknell were asked whether to adopt a Neighbourhood Plan to control future development in the town in a referendum held in September.

During the vote, 3,475 people – 86 per cent of those who voted – chose to adopt the plan.

The plan contains 36 policies across five themes: housing and character; transport and infrastructure, economy and employment; heritage; and environment and community.

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It was drawn up by Bracknell Town Council with an objective of steering how development progresses in the town until 2036.

The plan has now been made official following a vote by Bracknell Forest Council’s executive committee on Tuesday, October 19.

Cllr Chris Turrell, chairman of the neighbourhood plan steering group which has overseen the plan, said: ” On behalf of the plan steering group, I am very grateful to all the residents who took the trouble to read the information and vote for the Plan.

“I would also like to thank the members of the steering group, who have worked on this Plan for a number of years.

“It brings a number of benefits to Bracknell, such as protection for green space, improvements to pedestrian and cycle links, protection of community facilities and support for environmental improvements.”

Cllr Turrell has also celebrated that 11 places have been designated Local Green Spaces, which gives them extra protection from being built on.

  1. These 11 places are:
  2. South Hill Park
  3. Lily Hill Park
  4. Easthampstead Park
  5. Great Hollands Recreation Ground
  6. Jurassic Park (Great Hollands Playing Fields)
  7. Mill Park and Wildridings Playing Fields
  8. Harmans Water Playing Fields and The Parks Playing Fields 
  9. Calfridus Way Playing Fields
  10. Braybrooke Recreation Ground
  11. Queensway and Brook Green
  12. The Elms Park

Another benefit of having the plan is that any neighbourhood which has once gets to receive 25 per cent of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) payments for plans within their areas, which are paid by developers to local councils.

Areas which do not have neighbourhood plan only receive 15 per cent of the CIL payments.

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You can view all 36 policies in the neighbourhood plan on the Bracknell Town Council website here.

The results of the neighbourhood plan referendum were celebrated by the executive committee during their meeting.

You can view tweet coverage of the meeting here: https://twitter.com/jamesAjourno/status/1450492882222256136

Cllr Dr Gareth Barnard, the executive member for children, young people and learning (Conservative, Warfield Harvest Ride) said: “The town council has done an exemplary job in putting this together, this will have a positive impact on Bracknell Town and bring benefits to the town in terms of how funds can be spent for the residents of the town in which development takes place.

“So they’ve done a great job and I think it will be really important in taking the town forward.”

Bracknell Forest Council executive committee is made up entirely of Conservatives.

Cllr Turrell (Conservative, Harmans Water) is also the leader of Bracknell Town Council and the executive member for planning and transport at Bracknell Forest Council.