A MAJOR blueprint that will guide what can and cannot be built in Warfield has been given the go-ahead. 

Bracknell Forest Council’s decision-making executive has agreed to adopt the Warfield Neighbourhood plan after an overwhelming number of residents put forward their support for the proposal.

The neighbourhood plan, that acts as a guide for any future development decisions, hopes to help provide the village with a set of up-to-date local planning policies.

A referendum was held on November 17, where Warfield residents were asked if they supported the neighbourhood plan in helping to determine planning applications. The majority of people who voted agreed.

Residents were asked: "Do you want Bracknell Forest Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Warfield Parish to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"

A total of 1,063 votes were cast. Of these:

  • Number of votes in favour of a ‘yes’ was 882
  • Number of votes in favour of a ‘no’ was 177
  • 4 votes were rejected, deemed unmarked or void for uncertainty

The Executive agreed to make (adopt) the Warfield Neighbourhood Plan at its meeting on December 13, it will now form part of the borough’s overall development plan and will be used in planning decisions affecting the Warfield area.

By having these plans in place, it allows the council and its planning committee to assess development proposals and ensure any new development meets these locally agreed planning policies. 

Councillor Chris Turrell, executive member for planning and transport, said: “Thank you to Warfield Parish Council for preparing this plan and to everyone in Warfield who voted in the referendum last month – the vast majority supported having a plan in place for the parish to help us determine planning applications in the future.

 “It’s really important that we have these plans in place as they allow us to look at what development is appropriate for the parish overall, rather than doing it in an ad-hoc and uncoordinated way.

 “By having an overall plan and approach, it ensures we can approve appropriate development that is supported by the necessary infrastructure and can robustly refuse schemes that put the character of our parishes in jeopardy.”