The Government Office for the South East (GOSE) has decided not to call in the outline planning application for the regeneration of Bracknell town centre.
GOSE has given full support to the outline application, submitted by Bracknell Regeneration Partnerships (BRP), the Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust and Legal & General.
The decision as to whether to grant planning permission for the £750m BRP scheme will now remain with Bracknell Forest Borough Council.
The mixed-use town-centre scheme includes 600,000 sq ft of retail, 162,000 sq ft of leisure, 1,000 new homes, 665,000 sq ft of business space and 3,500 new car parking spaces.
Replacement civic space, transport improvements and public realm landscaping are also included in the plans.
David Gregory of Bracknell Regeneration Partnership said: “This is excellent news for Bracknell. A great deal of time and energy from both BRP and the Council has gone into developing the right scheme to transform Bracknell into a sustainable town centre for the future.
“With the major planning hurdles successfully negotiated, we can continue apace to turn this vision into a reality.
“We will spend the next 18 months completing all of the work necessary before construction can start. We expect work to begin onsite in late 2007.”
BRP was formed in April 2003 when the town centre’s major landowners, Legal & General Assurance Society and the Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust formed a partnership to pursue the development and regeneration of the town centre.
The outline planning application submitted by BRP is in accordance with the approved masterplan for the town centre developed by the council after extensive consultation with residents in 2002.
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References: EGi News 08/03/06
