CHRISTMAS is coming to Bracknell as seasonal stands are set to appear in the town centre.

The News reported last month that up to eighteen holiday huts could be propped up at Union Square, Bull Square and The Avenue.

Now the council is set to approve the planning application at a meeting on Thursday, October 11.

If approved, the stalls would be decorated in festive lighting and would be eligible to sell “crafts, food and entertainment”.

The planning committee will also discuss an application for a potential 68 new houses at Beaufort Park after the demolition of the office building.

The application was refused by the council in April because it was located outside a designated housing area and would impact the nearby countryside.

However the proposal has been re-submitted with the applicant making changes in order to meet the requirements of the council and an officer’s report highlighted that national policies encourage development on unused land.

Despite this Bracknell Town Council and Crowthorne Village Action Group have raised objections to the plans, citing concerns about the lack of affordable housing, the potential erosion of the gap between Bracknell and Wokingham and the isolation of the planned site.

Fifteen other responses objected to the plans based on a fear of increased traffic, further pressure on GPs and disruption to the “peace of and tranquility” of a nearby crematorium.

The application is set to be approved by the council as long as the development meets 21 planning requirements.

A proposal to erect a three bedroom house following the demolition of buildings at Hill Rise in Ascot will also be debated.

An officer’s report stated the new building would not be out of character with the surrounding area.

However the council have received eight letters of objection and a representation from Winkfield Parish Council about the suggested development.

The respondents to the application claimed there would be insufficient parking space at the site, that the development would be out of character with the site, make the area “cramped”, and would also result in a loss of green space and a loss of light.

However the recommendation is to approve the application, with an officer commenting that the development is “acceptable in principle”.

Other applications set to be considered at the meeting include the change of land use from agricultural to ‘alternative natural greenspace’ in Warfield, a single story extension at a property in Fordwells Drive, Bracknell, a tree preservation order and more.

The applications are set to be considered by the Bracknell Forest Council planning committee on Thursday, October 11.