Decision Delayed on Bracknell Housing Plans

A decision on plans for 235 new homes on a green space in north east Bracknell has been delayed.

A decision on plans for 235 new homes on a green space in north east Bracknell has been delayed.

The development sits between Hayley Green Road and Winkfield Lane — to the west of the Cricketers pub and south of the former Warfield Primary School. Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee spent three and a half hours on the application, one of the longest meetings many present could remember.

The site would be mainly accessed by car, surrounded by country roads with little street-lighting. A nearby footpath is already being built without off-carriageway cycling facilities, and dozens of residents have objected amid rumours the nearby bus service could be cut.

Access is currently proposed via a staggered junction east of Malt Hill and the Hayley Green crossroads on Bracknell Road — an accident hotspot — and from Forest Road, east of the junction with Cricketers Lane. There would also be a single cycle path.

Some have suggested remodelling the Malt Hill crossroads as a roundabout. Planners said a roundabout would be out of character, cause loss of trees and the site does not have enough land to accommodate one.

The plan was otherwise judged to fit Warfield’s ‘dark skies’ policy because the proposed LED lighting is designed to limit light scatter.

Cllr Gareth Barnard, Chair of Warfield Parish Council and leader of Bracknell’s Conservatives, had warned plans were being made independently of the council’s transport policy, citing the 299 bus.

The 299 runs only three days a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday — and is thought to be uneconomical. There are rumours Bracknell’s 2026 budget could cut the service completely.

Councillors acknowledged the risk that deferral could lead developers to appeal for non-decision, but Barnard pushed to reconsider access. He said: “Can we just look at the access again one more time and see if we can tweak this?”

Cllr Patrick Smith (LibDem) backed him, asking the developers be asked to engage for one more month, particularly on access. “We do need to weigh the risks around this. The big issue at the heart of all of our discussions here is around the integration between the officers, residents and the applicant.

“It would feel like bad faith were they not to engage in one more month of discussions. It feels like the sensible thing to do.”

Council Leader Mary Temperton (Lab) said: “The concern over Hayley Green tells us this is the right decision.” Eleven councillors voted to defer the decision; the chairperson, Tricia Brown (Lab), abstained.

Ted ONeill, Local Democracy Reporter