Bracknell Regeneration Plan Unveiled

Bracknell Regeneration Partnership submits planning application for transformation of town centre

A planning application for a £750 million mixed-use scheme to regenerate Bracknell town centre has been submitted by Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP).

BRP has assembled a world-class team led by Stanhope plc to deliver this regeneration project.

The comprehensive plans have been drawn up by the Richard Rogers Partnership, who are acting as masterplanners on the 36 ha (90 acre) project that will transform the outdated centre of Bracknell with new shops, offices, leisure, homes, open spaces and public buildings.

The regeneration proposals include new department stores, shops, offices, leisure and more than 1,000 homes. New public realm, civic buildings and transport improvements will all contribute to a truly mixed use development that will provide a great destination, with a wide range of activities and facilities for local people to enjoy from morning to evening.

The centre piece of the new retail development will be the Bracknell Eye – a dramatic covered town square providing retailing, leisure and apartments in a beautifully landscaped setting where events and activities can take place all year round.

Shopping facilities will be improved in line with the requests of local residents, creating an additional 56,000 sq m of retail space, and 15,000 sq m of leisure facilities, cafes and bars.

The town centre will benefit from an additional 3,500 public parking spaces, a new centrally located bus station and improved public transport into and around the town centre.

To facilitate the development a new library and Borough Council offices will be constructed to the South of the town centre providing the setting for the New Jubilee Gardens.

New buildings for the police, magistrates and Royal British Legion are proposed on Market Street.

The town centre regeneration plans have been developed by BRP working closely with Bracknell Forest Borough Council, building on a masterplan for Bracknell town centre developed by the council in 2002 following widespread consultation. Bracknell Regeneration Partnership has signed an agreement with the Borough Council to deliver the town centre scheme.

This is an outline planning application which establishes the development framework and the scale, mix and distribution of uses.

Detailed designs for the individual components will be prepared once outline planning permission has been granted. BRP will be involving a number of architects to ensure a high quality and varied approach to design throughout the town centre.

The redevelopment will be at the forefront of sustainable building. Bracknell Forest Borough Council and BRP have secured €4.2 million of European Commission funding to help design the new town centre that partly uses green energy. And by providing better facilities with improved transport links and easier access, the new town centre will contribute to a reduction in travel and congestion across Bracknell.

If planning permission is granted in mid 2005, building will commence in 2006 with phased completion of the major elements of the scheme from 2008.

David Gregory, Development Manager for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, commented: “The aim of the regeneration scheme is to completely transform Bracknell town centre ensuring a new identity and vibrant future for the town. Our proposed development will bring local people back to Bracknell to shop, but it’s more than just a shopping centre. The town centre scheme will provide a host of new uses, with more than 1,000 homes, leisure facilities including hotels, new public buildings, improved car parking and public transport and high quality landscaped public realm.”

Victor Nicholls, Head of Strategy and Partnerships in the Chief Executive's Office, at Bracknell Forest Borough Council said: “BRP’s regeneration scheme will deliver a vision for the town centre that the people of Bracknell Forest have asked for and one they most definitely deserve. The proposed scheme is very much in line with the Borough Council’s own masterplan for the town centre and we are confident that BRP and its team have both the expertise and financial backing to make it happen.”

The outline plans submitted for approval are on public display at 30 Charles Square between Tuesday 30th November 2004 and Sunday 18th December. The exhibition will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday 11am – 2pm, Thursday 11am – 6pm and Friday and Saturday 11am – 4pm.

Further information can be found at www.changebracknell.com

Issued by Tamesis

Contact: Dominic Morgan or Victoria Wallin Tamesis 020 7908 3200

The applicant – Bracknell Regeneration Partnership

The partnership capital of the Bracknell Regeneration Limited Partnership is owned by the Bracknell Property Unit Trust, the investors in which are Schroder Exempt Property Unit Trust and Legal & General Assurance Society.

The two investors came together in April 2003 when their respective substantial ownerships in the town were pooled.
SEPUT is managed by Schroder Property Investment Management, part of Schroders, the global investment house with over £5bn of property assets under management. Legal & General Property Assurance is advised by Legal & General Property with £7.5bn of property assets under management.

The development team

Stanhope plc has been appointed to manage all aspects of developing the project, co-ordinating the professional team and managing the build process.

BRP has appointed two architects: Richard Rogers Partnership who are responsible for master planning and Chapman Taylor who specialize on retail.

The Richard Rogers Partnership is a world class specialist with wide experience including the masterplan for the Tate Modern area in London, Viareggio in Tuscany and The Bullring area in Barcelona.

Other consultants include:

Davis Langdon & Everest  - quantity surveyors
Environ - environmental consultant
Space Syntax - movement & space analysis
Buchanan Consulting Engineers - traffic consultants
Herbert Smith - development & planning lawyers
Drivers Jonas - planning consultant
Lawrence Graham - property lawyer
Cushman & Wakefied; Healey & Baker - development consultants
Linklaters - construction lawyer.