Plans to sell off council-owned properties to raise money for a “business transformation” has been backed by councillors.

Bracknell Forest Council leaders and bosses want to look into selling some of the assets it owns such as offices, shops and storage units. They say this is to fund a programme to make the council more efficient, which will in turn help fund the council’s ambitions for the future.

Councillors voted for the plans at a meeting on Wednesday, November 29. Council leader Mary Temperton told them: “As part of the New Town development of Bracknell the council owns a large number of commercial sites that are not used to deliver our services including garages, pubs and small business units.

“This new policy means we can utilise any funding raised from selling them to invest in our business change programme and ensure our Council Plan is successfully delivered.”

READ MORE: Bracknell Forest Council could sell ‘commercial properties’

According to the council’s website some of the commercial properties it owns include industrial units on Liscombe in Birch Hill, the Longshot Lane Industrial Estate and Market Street. It also owns office units in Forest Park.

The council also owns neighbourhood shops on Bullbrook Row, Crown Row, Great Hollands Square, Liscombe, Priestwood Square, Rectory Row, Harmans Water, Warren Row, Wildridings Square and Yeovil Road.

The proposals were voted through by councillors as part of the Labour administration’s Council Plan – its goals for its coming four years in charge in Bracknell Forest.

Councillor Temperton said it is harder for the council to cover rising cost using its regular income and government funding. But she said selling off the properties would allow it to fund its ambitions without taking money from “key services”.

She said: “Costs have risen rapidly and our funding is not increasing to match these rising costs. Therefore we have worked carefully with officers to develop this plan to ensure that the commitments are possible within our means.

“This programme will be transformational, delivering significant change while saving money.”