The plan to build homes on Hayley Green in Warfield has been approved. Developers Boyer will build 235 houses on the green space in north‑east Bracknell, between Hayley Green Road and Winkfield Lane, west of the Cricketers pub and south of the former Warfield Primary School.
Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee spent four hours on the application in January, then a further three hours last week as councillors delayed to scrutinise a so‑called ‘master plan’ that had previously been shown at Brownlow Hall.
Councillors raised traffic and access worries. Cllr Gareth Barnard asked: "What input was there from anyone apart from officers to come up with the Master Plan which is now being considered the gold standard for this?" Cllr Tony Virgo warned: "There will be so much traffic coming and going, and the car park won’t suffice because there’s more numbers of cars than there is spaces in the car park." The meeting ran so long one councillor felt unwell and it was adjourned.
Developers propose access via a staggered junction east of Malt Hill and the existing Hayley Green crossroads on the Bracknell Road — described as an accident hotspot — and from Forest Road east of the junction with Cricketers Lane. There would also be a single cycle path.
Mr Virgo also said the access points looked very tight for emergency vehicles and asked for the fire service to be consulted; professional planners said there would be sufficient access for fire engines and the fire service will be asked again later in the process.
Cllr Virgo added: "The thing that concerns me, actually, is like Thames Water, they’re actually useless, to he honest, so let me just say that.
"The whole point is, these organisations don’t have the time and the staff to do everything, so unfortunately it doesn’t get the attention in should.
"In this particular incidence, I think it should be brought to their attention and for officers at the fire brigade to consider it and give a yes or no."
Some of Hayley Green’s natural areas will be retained, though a large central green space originally planned will be split up.
On the vote, nine councillors backed moving forward with the officers’ recommendation despite reservations, and three voted against. The holdouts were three Conservative councillors: Tina McKenzie Boyle from Crowthorne, and cllrs Dorothy Hayes and Tony Virgo of Winkfield and Warfield.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
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