One thing that’s for certain in 2024 is that housebuilding will continue to be a defining issue across Bracknell and Wokingham. Here’s where we’re at with some of the biggest developments.

Land between Maize Lane and Old Priory Lane in Warfield

The latest chunk of this 305-home development was approved in September this year. The group of 175 homes will be built by Taylor Wimpey, overlooking the Whitegrove roundabout.

It’s part of a much larger development underway on land just north of Harvest Ride, by a collection of developers known as the Warfield Central Consortium.

The whole thing got bare-bones “outline” approval in 2021, but the specific design and layout of different chunks each need further approval before they can progress.

Amen Corner South

Another development of some 300 homes – this time in Binfield. Developers Persimmon Homes got granted permission to build at Amen Corner South in August this year.

Planning permission was granted in full for 302 homes, and in principle for shops and business units to go with it. Persimmon will have to get further planning permission for the specific design and layout of those business units, as these only have “outline” approval.

Buckler’s Park

Surely one of the biggest developments in the area, some 1,000 homes will be at Buckler’s Park on the site of the old Transport Research Laboratory.

The whole scheme was approved in 2015 and such is the size of the development construction work is still ongoing. The latest news with this one is that it’s to be the site of a new school for children with autism, which Bracknell Forest Council leaders approved in September, and could open in 2026.

Beaufort Park

Southern Homes Development has long wanted to build 226 homes to the north east of Crowthorne, just on the other side of Nine Mile Ride to the Buckler’s Park development.

They were refused planning permission last year as councillors felt their parking designs weren’t up to scratch – and a government planning inspector agreed this year.

But Southern has amended the plans and submitted them again – with a new decision sure to be made in 2024.

Arborfield Green

Work on a new village centre in Arborfield Green could get going as early as January.

Detailed plans for the centre – which includes 206 homes, shops, a pub, a pedestrian high street, a pre-school, and a community centre with cafe and nursery – were given planning permission in October.

The centre is part of the much bigger Arborfield Garrison development of up to 2,000 homes that first got outline planning permission in 2014.

But residents have been waiting for years for the new community centre and supermarket that developer Crest Nicholson said it would provide once the first 1,000 homes had been built.