A public inquiry began this morning that could unlock the long-awaited £750m regeneration of Bracknell town centre in
The inquiry will focus on a series of concerns raised by property owners affected by Bracknell Forest council’s compulsory purchase of land required for Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust and Legal & General’s 90-acre scheme.
According to Chris Mansfield, council co-ordinator for the project, most of the issues, including negotiations over business relocations, have subsequently been addressed and of the 27 initial objectors only one will give evidence to the inquiry.
Eight council witnesses will give evidence, six of which are scheduled to give evidence today. Seven objections have been withdrawn.
If the inquiry backs the CPO, work on the 1.4m sq ft Richard Rogers-designed scheme will begin in the first quarter of 2009.
Schroder and L&G’s plans were first drawn up in 2002 and received planning consent in 2006. They comprise 667,370 sq ft of offices, 602,785 sq ft of retail, 1,000 homes, 161,460 sq ft of leisure and public buildings.
Schroder and L&G are seeking a major investment partner in the scheme, which is project managed by Stanhope.
“It’s a given that regeneration is necessary. We haven’t had a single objection to the principal of the regeneration, and we don’t anticipate this will halt the scheme.
“The problems are mainly localised issues that we believe can be resolved.”
Jones Lang LaSalle is advising development consortium the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership.
