BRACKNELL Forest has welcomed stars of the small screen to the borough before and could soon be doing so again if new plans for a film set near Swinley Forest are approved.
A proposal to create a temporary set at Buttersteep Rise has been lodged with applicants hoping to film at the site from June 2021 to October 2021.
READ MORE: Netflix's The Witcher rumoured to be filming in Bracknell
If the plans are given the go-ahead, film crews would be allowed to use the crown land, east of Swinley Road in Ascot, for 12 months from when permission is given.
It is not clear which show the set would be used for, but papers attached to the plans indicate it is for a television series made by a US production company.
The show being filmed there could well be Bridgerton — the popular alternate period drama currently showing on Netflix made by US production company Shondaland.
In November 2020, the News revealed plans had been submitted to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to build a film set for the Netflix show, with plans clearly identifying buildings for the Bridgertons and the Featheringtons -- the two central families in the show.
The site chosen for the application sent to Bracknell Forest borders the Royal Borough and papers attached to the proposals indicate the production company is aiming to film at “multiple locations across the south-east.”
READ MORE: Bracknell Forest locations where film and TV crews have shot footage
Furthermore, Planit Consulting drew up the design statement for the Bracknell Forest application — the same planning experts which submitted the other application to RBWM.
It was announced today that Bridgerton had been renewed for a second series.
The actual proposal involves constructing temporary buildings with fencing surrounding some of them in the north of the site, as well as a site office, a marquee, 300 car parking spaces and other necessities.
However, the site lies in the greenbelt — land which is typically protected from building work by local and national planning policies.
Applicants argue any developments in the green belt are ‘completely reversible’ and therefore the set will have ‘no lasting impact on the landscape’.
They also claim creating the film set will bring “significant economic benefit” to the area.
READ MORE: Film crew rumoured to be shooting in the town centre
Bracknell Forest Council validated the application in December but only published details of the plans earlier this week.
Planning experts at the council are now considering the proposals.
For full details, enter planning reference 20/01063/FUL at planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
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