Progress is being made on a new housing project between Bracknell and Crowthorne being built to replace a ‘folly’ office building that was never occupied.
The Beaufort Park office building, situated off South Road near Easthampstead Park Cemetery, was completed in 2009 but never occupied.
Now, work is well underway to construct 68 homes on the site.
The building work is being undertaken by housebuilders Taylor Wimpey, which has called its development ‘The Evergreens’ as the homes are surrounded by evergreen trees.
Once complete, The Evergreens will provide a mix of one and two-bed apartments and two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, with prices starting at £349,950 and going to £715,000.
The construction site was recently visited by James Sunderland, the Conservative MP for Bracknell, who met with Taylor Wimpey officials to discuss the construction, the development’s place in the environment and jobs.
Mr Sunderland said: “It was great to meet up with Novraj Sidhu, Regional Managing Director and Bracknell-based Joe Keefe, Site Manager at the Taylor Wimpey Evergreens development in the Great Hollands Ward.
“We discussed the technical skills required in construction, protecting the environment and opportunities for apprenticeships and trainees in construction.
“Congratulations to Joe, who won a Quality Award for this year’s National House Building Council Pride in the Job Awards.”
A celebratory plaque for Mr Keefe displayed during Mr Sunderland’s visit states that the ‘Pride in the Job’ award is dedicated to recognising site managers who achieve ‘the highest standards in housebuilding.’
Detailed plans for The Evergreens development were given the go ahead at a Bracknell Forest Council planning committee meeting in November 2021 despite disapproval from members due to the lack of affordable housing, the change in the character of South Road, and access to the site.
READ MORE: 68 homes plan on outskirts of Bracknell given go ahead despite disapproval
Of the seven affordable homes being built, two will be shared ownership houses and five will be apartments.
Taylor Wimpey has confirmed that the office building has been demolished.
A spokesperson for the company said: “In line with the planning approval we received from Bracknell Forest Council in November 2021, the vacant Beaufort Park office building has now been demolished and is being replaced with new homes as part of our The Evergreens development.
“The Evergreens will deliver 68 energy efficient new homes, with a variety of apartments and houses to meet local needs. Since its launch in December 2022, we have begun welcoming new residents, and are offering a range of incentives to make moving easier for both first and second time buyers.
“As part of our planning obligations we will contribute over £920,000 to Bracknell Forest Council, much of which will go towards primary education and open space improvements in the local area.”
The principle of replacing the Beaufort Park office building with a housing development was established by landowner JPP and Hodge Developments, which won outline approval for what would become The Evergreens in 2019.
The approval was then sold to Taylor Wimpey for implementation.
The outline plan for the Beaufort Park site was refused by Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee in April 2018 but was approved on appeal by the government’s planning inspectorate in October 2019.
At the time, inspector Baird acknowledged concerns about the loss of the Beaufort Park office building, but ultimately judged that use of the area for employment was not protected, therefore the development could go ahead.
A subsequent plan for more than 200 homes on land surrounding the Taylor Wimpey site was refused by the council’s planning committee and an appeal dismissed this July.
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