Huge plan for 205 homes at TRL site near Bracknell submitted

Four planning applications have been submitted for the sites surrounding the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) headquarters off Nine Mile Ride in Crowthorne.

While TRL remains, much of the grounds used to conduct experiments has been turned over to housing development known as Buckler’s Park.

Back in 2015, Bracknell Forest Council approved outline plans for 1,000 homes on the TRL grounds, which sit between Crowthorne and Bracknell.

Because the project is so huge, it has been split up into phases – each requiring planning applications.

READ MORE: 'Out of character' Bracknell homes rejected in area's latest planning decisions 

This January, four applications were submitted containing plans for a total of 205 homes, the ‘Northern Gateway’ into the site and two huge warehouses.

The biggest of these is the submission of details for phase 5A of Buckler’s Park, containing 111 homes.

Of those, 58 will be three-bed, 33 are four-bed, and there will 17 two-bed, two one bed homes and one five bedroom house.

Only 10 of the homes would be affordable, broken down into five four-bed and three three-bed homes available through affordable rent, and the two one-beds available through shared ownership.

Phase 5A comes with 277 parking spaces, with 191 being allocated spaces, 29 allocated in garages, 34 in car ports and 23 spaces reserved for visitors.

he schedule of accommodation for Phase 5A of Bucklers Park at the former TRL site in Crowthorne. Credit: Boyer

Meanwhile, full plans have been submitted for phase 5B, which would contain 94 homes.

Of those, 41 will be two-bedroom, 25 will be three-bedroom, 13 will be four-bedroom, 11 will be one-bedroom and four will have five bedrooms.

Phase 5B comes with 213 car parking spaces, with 165 of these being outdoors, 15 contained in garages and 13 in car ports, with 20 outdoor spaces allocated for visitors.

The housing mix plan for phase 5B of Bucklers Park Credit: Cala Homes / Boyer Planning

New roads and a cycle network that links up to the rest of the development will be created.

Both phase 5A and 5B are located east of the existing TRL roundabout, with the ‘Northern Gateway’ being the area east and west of that roundabout.

Plans for the Northern Gateway submitted this month include details of trees and landscaping, and the installation of benches and picnic tables.

READ MORE: Buckler's Park development in Crowthorne set for 63 new homes

Finally, plans have also been submitted for two huge warehouses to store vehicles. Referred to as ‘the depot’, the site would be 35,000 square metres and operate during daytime hours (7am to 7pm) only.

The depot plan has already received 55 objections from neighbours in Crowthorne.

You can view each application by typing the reference into the council’s planning portal:

• Details for phase 5A, 111 homes – 22/01043/REM
• Phase 5B, 94 homes – 22/01051/FUL
• Two warehouses – 22/01046/REM
• Northern Gateway – 22/01045/REM

Phases of the Buckler’s Park site are being built on by a consortium of developers.

Cala Homes submitted all the plans mentioned above.