Bracknell bus station could be replaced by market square

Bracknell Forest Council leaders are considering a proposed ‘masterplan’ for the town centre. It includes a proposal to completely overhaul the area between Bracknell train station and The Lexicon.

Proposals say the market square at the centre of this will act as a new ‘southern gateway’ into the town centre.

The plans say: “This should be both an everyday community space for life to unfold and town centre celebration space, accommodating markets and events.”

READ MORE: What could happen to The Deck in 2024?

Plans also say there will be seating to ‘spill into the space as well as offering people a chance to sit, relax and take in the life of the town.’

Bracknell’s war memorial could be relocated to the new market square to give it a ‘more prominent position’ in the town centre. The Market Inn pub – which is a listed building – will be left as it is.

Bus stops would be relocated onto Station Road, Station Way and Market Street. But plans also say Station Way would be ‘humanised.’

The plans say the current bus station ‘occupies a prime location’ between the train station and The Lexicon. This gets in the way of a safe walking route that could connect the two.

A bird's eye view of how the new 'market square' could look (Image: Bracknell Forest Council)

That, and the two major roads Market Street and The Ring, mean people walking between The Lexicon and the train station currently have to walk through two underpasses.

Under the new plans the underpasses will be demolished and replaced by pedestrian crossings.

There will also be a new multi-storey car park on the area between Station Way and Church Road.

Large buildings will frame the north east of the square – helping to create the sense of a ‘gateway’ into The Lexicon, with the tallest being up to 17 storeys high.

READ MORE: High Street Car Park could be replaced by new neighbourhood

The proposed new square is part of bigger proposals to continue the regeneration of Bracknell town centre. These include a ‘new neighbourhood’ replacing High Street Car Park, and a revamped area around Bracknell library and Easthampstead House.

But the plans do not include new proposals for what to do with the former Bentalls site, 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.

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.