High Street Car Park could be replaced by new neighbourhood

The car park on The Ring in Bracknell town centre was closed permanently in October last year as the building was coming to the end of its life. Now new plans say it could be redeveloped into a ‘vibrant’ mostly residential area with shops at street level.

The plans say: “The council’s planning policy aims to regenerate the area as a vibrant and sustainable mixed use area.”

They add that, with The Lexicon and train station nearby, the site is suitable for a ‘high density predominantly residential mixed-use development with commercial uses at ground level.’

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Plans say redevelopment would be an opportunity to connect The Peel Centre with The Lexicon with a ‘strong new neighbourhood’ and an east to west pedestrian and cycle route.

This will include a pedestrian-priority street that will encourage cycling. There’ll also be a range of types and sizes of homes, including some with three bedrooms. Most of the new housing in the town centre has been made up of one or two bedroom flats and studios.

Masterplan for the 'new neighbourhood' that could replace High Street Car Park (Image: Bracknell Forest Council)

Shops and community spaces would be on the ground floor of the new buildings, with the housing above. And there will be ‘active roof spaces’ for ‘private green space.’

The plans also say replacing the car park is an opportunity to break the ‘canyon effect’ that its size and length ‘imposes on The Ring.’

The tallest building could be up to 12 storeys high, while most of the others will be up to eight or nine storeys. Unlike the car park, they would vary in height and size to avoid long ‘walls’ of buildings.

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Members of the council’s executive committee – its leading group of councillors – are set to approve a public consultation on the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, March 19.

They are part of bigger proposals to continue the transformation of Bracknell town centre. These include a new ‘market square’ by the train station, and a revamped area around Bracknell library and Easthampstead House.

However the plans do not include new proposals for what to do with the former Bentalls site, also on The Ring. Previous plans to build a space for restaurants and bars – known as The Deck – fell through in 2023 after years of delays.

Councillor Paul Bidwell – responsible for regeneration – said in December that he and the landowners hoped to open the site for temporary uses this year. The News has asked for an update and is waiting for a response.