Plans published for 'vibrant' town centre

Plans for Bracknell Forest town centre have been published

A council has released proposed masterplans for the next phase of a town's regeneration.

Bracknell Forest Council has described them as creating a "vibrant and welcoming" town centre with hotels, "high quality" offices and homes, and space for new cultural activities and leisure.

The plans are an early vision of how the council would like the next phase of Bracknell's new town centre revamp to look.

The leading group of councillors in Bracknell Forest, the executive committee, are set to agree on Tuesday to launch a public consultation on the masterplan.

One of the biggest changes in the plans is the proposed replacement of Bracknell bus station with a new market square.

The now-disused High Street car park would also be demolished and replaced with a new neighbourhood, and the area around Easthampstead House and Bracknell Library would also get a revamp.

A public consultation is expected to be launched on the plans

Meanwhile the inner town roads will be "remodelled" to make walking and cycling more appealing.

The Lexicon will still be at the centre of the town centre – but development along the outskirts will help create a more "outward looking and welcoming approach".

If councillors agree to adopt the proposals, they will become a part of the authority’s development rules, meaning any developers who want planning permission to build in these areas will have to show that their designs align with the council's vision.