A WETHERSPOON pub housed in a beautiful listed building in Bracknell is among the latest to apply to for planning permissions to make a few changes.

The face of Bracknell Forest is forever changing and below we have rounded up some of the latest most interesting application put forward locally.

The Old Manor pub

The Grade II listed Wetherspoon pub in Grenville Place has put forward plans to Bracknell Forest Council to make a few minor changes to the site. The changes are couple with an application for Listed Building Consent as the building dates back to the 15th century.

Planning documents say the ‘core of the medieval hall house’ still remains within the current pub building. The latest proposal is to strip out the kitchen’s air conditioning unit, modify the supply air duct system in the roofspace and other air conditioning related changes.

Plans are described as ‘minor services update alterations’ required as maintenance to provide’ a safe and comfortable environment for staff and customers’.

The council approved the work on June 23.

Tree to be felled at college site

Newbold College has applied to Bracknell Forest Council for permission to bring down a protected tree within its grounds.

The higher education site, a Seventh-day Adventist college attracting students from all over, proposed to fell the Sycamore tree on the southern edge of the site.

Plans describe the 16m-18m tree as being protected since May 2001, but has degraded and is now at ‘risk of failure’.

An assessment said: “The open cavity and degraded remaining wood mean the tree's structural integrity has been compromised and tree work is necessary to mitigate the risk of its failure.

“In this instance, the proposed felling is considered a reasonable course of action in preventing injury to persons and/or property.”

The proposal was approved on June 24 and it is said that the woodland surrounding the tree will allow for natural regeneration – meaning replacement is not necessary.

Changes to plans for 14-bed HMO

A proposal has been put forward to vary previous approval made for the build of a three-storey building to be used as a 14-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

Ascot House in Rectory Close is at the centre of works hoping to create a new three-storey building following demolition of an existing nine-bedroom HMO.

But applicants had submitted plans to vary the already approved designs to reduce the number of windows and increase the height of the building by 650mm. Other minor changes also include changing the size of front and rear rooflights.

It was approved by Bracknell Forest Council on June 25.

WW2 filming in Swinley Forest

Planners at Bracknell Forest Council have been asked to consider plans for filming in Swinley Forest.

It was discussed by the local authority at a meeting this past week in which it was revealed the proposal hopes to create a wooded backdrop for a Prisoner of War camp in the film.

The plans for a set to be created on Crown land east of Swinley Road, Ascot, have proved controversial among commentors.

Posting on Twitter, the Society for the Protection of Ascot and the Environs (SPAE) said: “Disappointingly Bracknell Forest councillors overwhelmingly voted in favour of building a film set in picturesque Swinley Forest despite objections from their own officer, local residents, @SPAE_org, @CPRE and after @RBWM had rejected a similar plan.”

The blessing is set to be officially confirmed by the council at a planning meeting next week.