Neighbours have reacted with faux surprise that a multi-storey car park in Bracknell could be demolished to make way for flats.
The High Street car park was built in the 1970s to accommodate drivers coming into Bracknell, providing a convenient place to stop for shoppers and workers.
The car park was linked to the Princess Square shopping centre when it opened in 1984.
But car parking ended at the building in October 2023, with voluntary occupants such as The Couch music charity having to vacate prior to its full closure last December.
Soon, a decision will be made on its demolition to make way for flats as part of the next phase of the regeneration of the town centre.
Residents were thoroughly unfazed by the news in comments on Facebook.
Two people said “there’s a surprise”, indicating a sense of predictability.
Christine Ryan said: “More flats, well, that’s a surprise.”
A decision on the demolition of the car park has to be made by Bracknell Forest Council’s planning committee.
Although only the demolition of the building is being sought, it has been made clear that this will clear the way for new flats.
Early stage plans for the site feature in the Bracknell town centre masterplans supplementary planning document, which mentions that the building could make way for 142 dwellings with commercial space.
Leanne Philbey said: “We all knew that’s why they really closed the car park, as if we need more flats!”
Jokingly, Si Foster said: “Ah good, I was worried Bracknell was running out of flats.”
Ian Shambrook said:“We don’t need any more flats, we need houses with gardens and parking spaces, safe places for our children and grandchildren to grow up.”
The masterplans document was approved in October 2024. In March that year, the Bracknell Forest Local Plan was adopted, laying out where the council wants development to take place until 2037.
Preparation work is taking place to build 226 homes at Beaufort Park, which will mainly be houses, as will 220 homes earmarked at Derby Field in Crowthorne, which both feature in the Local Plan.
Construction of high-rise apartments will be focused in Bracknell town centre.
While the Local Plan does not mention the High Street car park, the Southern Gateway is identified for 600 homes and the Eastern Gateway is identified for 210 homes, both of which feature in the masterplans document.
Demolition of the car park is being pursued by the Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership, a joint venture between the council and Countryside Homes.
The project has been justified by the council as structural deterioration means the building is no longer safe to use.
The council’s planning committee will make a decision on the demolition on Thursday, August 13.
You can view the application by typing reference PA/2026/0294 into the council’s planning portal.
