Bracknell Forest Council is asking locals for feedback on new rules to stop piecemeal building and make proper masterplans for big or sensitive sites.
These masterplans are meant to make sure developments feel like neighbourhoods, not bolt‑ons - covering where homes, shops, parks and streets will go and how places will work day to day.
Sites that would need a masterplan include large areas (for example, parts of the Peel Centre or The Point), big estates of roughly 50 homes or more (like the new ones in Warfield), and locations near historic buildings, important wildlife or well‑used parks.
A masterplan must include:
- a survey of what's already there - land, homes, trees, wildlife and views;
- a clear vision for the neighbourhood and how it should feel;
- plans for homes, green space, community facilities and movement by foot, bike, bus and car;
- design and character details - heights, layouts and how new buildings will fit in;
- measures for tackling climate change, such as insulation, sustainable drainage and planting for nature.
The consultation is about the rules, not individual schemes. The council wants views on which sites should need a masterplan, whether the checklist is right, and if the process for making and consulting on plans is fair.
Responses from parish and town councils, community groups, developers and residents will be summarised in a formal report and used to tweak the guidance before it's finalised. The masterplans will then help shape Bracknell's next generation of neighbourhoods.
The consultation closes on Friday, April 24 2026 at 5pm. To give feedback email development.plan@bracknell-forest.gov.uk or visit the Bracknell Forest website and search for 'Masterplans Supplementary Planning Document'.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
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