URL: https://democratic.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4031

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To review progress made by Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership 2024–2025 and to agree the updated Joint Venture Business Plan.

Content: RESOLVED that   i.       the progress made by Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership for the period December 2023 to December 2024 is noted.   ii.     the proposed JV Business Plan for the Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership as set out in Annex A and the financial budget and forecast as set out in Confidential Annex B is approved. i.       The recommendations 3.1 and 3.2 support the fulfilment of Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership’s objectives and aligns with the legal agreements entered into by the partners, which require the agreed JV Business Plan to be formally reviewed each year.   ii.     The scope of the JV Business Plan has not changed materially since inception in 2020, although it should be noted that the Jubilee Gardens site, a category 1 site in the Members Agreement, has now been included as part of a wider master planning of the Southern Gateway, a category 2 site. The Town Centre Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was approved in October 2024 and sets out the objectives for key town centre sites of the Southern and Eastern Gateways and the High Street Car Park. The JV has been in discussion with the council to establish priorities for development of the Southern Gateway area and High Street Car Park and is due to appoint an architect in the next few weeks to carry out initial development options and feasibility studies. The outputs from this work will be presented to the council for consideration later this year. If approved, the JV will progress further more detailed work. The council is under no obligation to approve the initial proposals presented by the JV for the SPD sites and can look at other development routes to bring them forward. If however the council does enter in to an exclusivity agreement with the JV, work to produce and initial site development proposal (ISDP) will be progressed and presented to the Council for consideration.   iii.    Work has paused on the Depot site to enable housing associations to assess the impact of the Government spending review in June this year. There have been early conversations with the Local Planning Authority to agree the approach to development on the site and the ambition remains to bring the site forward in line with the Initial Site Development Plan (ISDP) which was approved in October 2023.   iv.    The JV has been awarded the demolition for the High Street Car Park and had approval from the council to being high level feasibility studies in line with the Town Centre Masterplan for Southern Gateway. This will also include opportunities for the future development of the High Street Car Park site. The ambitions for the area include provision of new, high quality commercial space and homes, enhanced public open space and improved connectivity to and from the town centre on foot, cycle and public transport. The area will support the town centre economy and provide new cultural and community facilities. Members could choose not to endorse the Business Plan and instruct the Partnership to rework any parts that cause concern. However, as there are no proposed significant amendments to the Business Plan 2023-26 that have not previously been considered and endorsed by Members, it is felt that this would not be easily justified. None

Date of Decision: September 23, 2025