Bracknell Forest Local Plan update as key site falls through

A Local Plan is a document drawn up a council’s planning department that  defines whereabouts in the local area it would like homes built.

In Bracknell Forest, the majority of the homes would be built across four sites – Jealott’s Hill, The Peel Centre, Beaufort Park, and Derby Field in Crowthorne.

However, the plan suffered something of a defeat as an application to build 226 homes south of the defunct Beaufort Park office building was refused by the council’s own planning committee in July.

READ MORE: Plan to build 226 homes at Beaufort Park refused 

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Bracknell Forest Council for an update on the progress of the Local Plan.

Max Hunter the council’s assistant director, planning, explained: “The Submission Version Local Plan has now been through public examination and the council is awaiting feedback on the plan from the government appointed local plan inspectors.

“Beaufort Park was one of the housing allocations contained within the plan that the inspectors examined.

“Any modifications to the plan will be recommended by the planning inspectors.

“The council will need to consider how it responds to these proposed modifications when they are received.

“It is anticipated that the inspectors will write to the council with their findings in the new year.”

READ MORE: The planning rule which could let developers build more homes in Bracknell Forest

A series of examinations into the plan took place this year, where government inspectors interviewed the council’s planning department, developers, residents’ groups and individual residents.

A panel of examiners were able to ask questions and receive answers about the plan.

The examinations were undertaken from May to June and in October this year.

Giving an additional explanation as to what happens next, councillor Chris Turrell (Conservative, ) executive member for planning, said: “Although the Beaufort Park site is in the emerging Local Plan, the refusal of planning application at the planning committee on July 22 has to be considered as a separate matter, as the Plan is not adopted policy.

“However, it should be noted that the officer recommendation was for approval, and the applicant could have gone to appeal on this.

“They have not so far done so, but are still within the deadline for appeal.”

Beaufort Park Bracknell - which was earmarked for homes in the Emerging Bracknell Forest Plan, policy LP 5

The applicant, Southern Housing Group, has to lodge an appeal within six months from the date of the decision notice, which was served on July 29,

Therefore,  Southern Housing Group now has until January 29, 2023, to appeal against the refusal of the plan.

Beaufort Park aside, the council’s planning department undertook a series of actions that arose from the hearings, which have all been completed according to an agreed timescale.

The examiners will produce a report which will decide the future steps for the plan, including any modifications.

Cllr Turrell said: “I look forward to further progress on the Plan, leading to its adoption in 2023.”