Bracknell Car Park Demolition Approved for Housing

Bracknell's High Street multi-storey car park, closed as unsafe in October 2023, is set to be demolished after a unanimous planning committee decision on Thursday 13 August.

The 1970s car park had 980 spaces, a walking link to Princess Square and housed The Acoustic Couch and council services.

Bracknell Forest Council shut it because of significant structural deterioration. The work could take six months or longer.

Councillor Tony Virgo (Conservative, Winkfield & Warfield East) quipped: "Once they start, that's it, they could have 12 years!"

Details sit in a Demolition Environmental Management Plan by Collard, who were formally awarded the demolition contract in March last year. The council's assistant director for planning said the timeframe can be limited through the contract.

The council received £2.2 million from the One Public Estate Brownfield Site Release Fund to part-fund the £4 million demolition.

Cllr Mary Temperton (Labour, Great Hollands) said: "I just think this has to go, and this gives us permission to go. We've received money from the government to get this going, and we've put in money as well.

"How long it's going to take is concerning, but hopefully when it starts it will be over as quickly as possible.

Its demolition will clear the way for 142 apartments, as set out in the council's town centre masterplans supplementary document. There is also potential for community facilities, such as The Acoustic Couch, to be reprovided within replacement buildings.

Sheila Collings (Green, Binfield North & Warfield West), vice-chair of the committee, said: "We know the car park needs to go. We are assured that the community facility which is being removed will be put forward in any planning application that comes forward.

"And I'm hoping it will be suitable for the music venue that we lost, which was very popular.

"There are obviously opportunities to make improvements to the town centre as a result of this demolition."

The demolition was unanimously approved (reference PA/2026/0294 on the council's planning portal). The project is being delivered by the Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership, a joint venture between the council and Countryside Homes. No plans for the 142 apartments have been submitted yet.

Victor Rones said: "In my view, this town will be filled with high-rise flats that make the town look like a bad slum area with flats from Mile End, Stepney or Stratford in East London."

"If I were younger, I would get out of this rat hole."

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter