Jealott’s Hill site to go as Bracknell Forest local plan 'unsound'

Inspectors looking at Bracknell Forest's Local Plan, which sets out areas for development, suggested removing plans for a 2,000-home ‘garden village’ at Jealott’s Hill.

The site, designated policy LP7 in the plan, would have surrounded the Syngenta International Research Centre.

It was one of a number of places identified for approximately 3,700 homes across Bracknell Forest.

Other sites suggested for considerable housing numbers were 900 homes for The Peel Centre, 226 homes at Beaufort Park, and 217 homes for Derby Field in Crowthorne.

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest Local Plan progress update as plan for key site falls through 

But, an examination document from the government’s planning inspectorate, received on Thursday, January 19, called the local plan 'unsound.'

In their letter, the inspectors said: “We have found that the allocation of several sites is not justified for a variety of reasons, the detail of which is to be set out in our report.

“Their contribution will need to be excluded from the housing supply. These include Jealott’s Hill.”

ealott's Hill - earmarked for 2,000 homes in the Emerging Bracknell Forest Plan, policy LP 7

Inspectors also suggested that small sites opposite Pope’s Meadow in Binfield and Lower Church Road in Sandhurst should be removed – these accounted for about 50 homes.

The report was written by government planning inspectors Louise Nurser and David Troy and received by the council on Thursday, January 19.

Now, the council’s planning department needs to consider main modifications (MMs) that the inspectors have suggested, make changes, put these changes to a public consultation and submit the adapted plan to the inspectorate.

Commenting on the inspector’s response, councillor Chris Turrell (Conservative, Harmans Water) executive member for planning, said: “Naturally, it is disappointing that the plan is not able to be adopted as it stands, especially as there were extremely important economic reasons why the Jealott’s Hill development was put forward.

“However, we are grateful to planning inspectors for their invaluable comments and the recognition that we have worked hard to create a plan that meets the future needs of our residents and businesses.

“We’re pleased they recognise it is legally compliant and could be adopted subject to some straightforward modifications.

“We are now working through all the recommendations and will soon consult on the changes to capture residents’ feedback.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to comment on the plan so far and want to assure our residents and businesses that we are working as quickly as possible to get the right plan adopted for our borough.”

Bracknell Forest Council submitted its draft Local Plan to the government in December 2021.