Verdict Due on Historic Park Conversion Plans

A verdict is due on a project to convert a historic park house and adjacent offices into 33 apartments in Bracknell.

Lily Hill Park was once part of Windsor Great Park until Henry Dormer Vincent bought the land in 1807. Lily Hill House was built in 1817 and extensively landscaped by his son, Henry William Vincent, from 1833.

The estate passed down through several owners before Bracknell Forest Council acquired it in 1983 and used Lily Hill House as offices. Lily Hill Court was built as purpose‑built offices in the 1990s.

The park includes woodland, meadows, a water garden and is home to the Bracknell Lawns Tennis Club.

The owning company has applied to convert both buildings to create a total of 33 apartments.

Plans say Lily Hill House would become 12 one‑bed or studio apartments, six two‑bed flats and two three‑bed apartments. Lily Hill Court would be converted into three one‑bed and 10 two‑bed flats.

The site currently provides 102 parking spaces; 59 of those would be allocated for future occupants.

Plans date back to 2021 and were initially approved, but that consent expired after three years because no work had started. A subsequent application last year was rejected amid concerns that future occupants would be negatively affected by noise and activity from the tennis club.

The council's environmental health team has now assessed a noise report submitted with the current application and concluded internal noise levels will remain acceptable.

The planning department originally said a daylight assessment was missing for Lily Hill Court, but one has since been provided.

“The updated daylight assessment demonstrates that, despite the presence of tall trees, internal daylight levels achieve the relevant technical criteria.

“On this basis, the proposed residential conversion is not expected to give rise to a hazard to health in relation to insufficient natural light.”

Planning officer Simon Roskilly has recommended the conversion for approval. The scheme will be discussed by Bracknell Forest Council's planning committee on Thursday, March 19. A decision had been due in January but the item was withdrawn from that meeting's agenda.

You can view the application on the council's planning portal using reference 25/00727/PAE.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter