MAJOR plans to build 164 flats at the home of Bracknell Town Football Club (BTFC) have been unveiled as the team looks to set up bases at three new sites in the area.
The rapid expansion of BTFC’s teams — which now includes a senior men’s side, a youth team and a girls academy — means the club needs to move away from Larges Lane to continue its growth.
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A planning statement read: “The proposal is to upgrade and relocate the current facilities to 3 separate locations.
“The new, bespoke and compliant facilities will be to the benefit of all for many years to come.
“These new locations will also provide considerably improved overall facilities for the local community and educational institutes as the new sites will be able to suitably accommodate multisports.”
The project would see one home and the sports buildings off Larges Lane knocked down to make way for 80 one-bedroom apartments, 80 two-bedroom apartments and four three-bedroom apartments.
The three sites identified for the future of BTFC would be used for different purposes:
Site A
Site A involves a proposal to upgrade BTFC’s existing facilities, although the exact location is still under wraps.
Development of this site means investment and improvements would be made to the Robins’ ground in order to comply with FA rules for having an attendance capacity of 1,950 fans.
During the daytime it will be used for educational purposes for boys and girls and during the weekends and evenings it will be used for club matches and training.
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It also includes the refurbishment and extension to the on-site clubhouse building, to provide changing rooms, showers, storages, kitchen, bar and a lounge.
The existing grass pitch would be replaced with a new 3G artificial pitch with perimeter fencing and turnstiles.
Site B
The second site proposes to enhance Ranelagh School playing fields, which will be used by the youth team and by the school’s students.
A new pavilion building would be added to the site, which would include classrooms, a medical room, changing rooms and more along with three new fully-irrigated and drained grass football pitches.
Site C
The last site on the list is for Ranelagh School Tennis Court, where a multi-use games area and futsal court will be built at the front of the school.
This ‘derelict’ site will be ‘totally rebuilt’ and will feature a football pitch, a futsal pitch, three netball courts, four tennis courts and cricket nets.
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A planning document claims this is “a facility that the staff and pupils could only dream of and brought to life by this project.”
New homes at Larges Lane
Some of the new homes will be made affordable, but planning documents do not state how many.
These new homes would come with 162 car parking spaces and 252 cycle spaces.
Developers say: “The main design principle of the proposal is to create a high-quality living environment with good place-making that is directly informed by the site analysis and design principles and that carefully respects the site constraints and the surrounding context.
“The layout is comprised of three buildings which form a communal amenity space in the heart of the development that serves the resident.”
The new homes will be in buildings from three to five storeys high.
The final word…
Here’s what architects, in conjunction with BTFC, say about their major proposal.
“The proposed development will provide a mix of highquality affordable apartments in a highly accessible and sustainable location.
“This will contribute to an identified current and future housing need in Bracknell and also assist the funding for Bracknell Town FC to provide the league and the local communities with new state of the art sport facilities.”
The application is being considered by Bracknell Forest Council.
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