THE business taking over HP’s former offices in Binfield have asked the council to speed up plans to bulldoze the tech giant’s old site.
New owners of the Cain Road space have submitted a second planning application to demolish HP Enterprise’s offices.
A planning statement attached to the new application reads: “A concurrent, and separate application for planning permission has been submitted to the council for a data centre.
“This application [...] is submitted in order to provide the council with greater certainty around the planned demolition operations and to allow the applicant to carry out early-stage demolition works ahead of planning permission being granted.”
READ MORE: Film crews could set up at new business park at former HP site
Plans published last year showed designs for the complete redevelopment of the Cain Road site from offices to a new 350,000 sq ft business park called ‘Network West’.
The joint venture behind the plans, made up of real estate group Hines, developers Chancerygate and bankers Credit Suisse, are hoping to attract a range of firms to the new 24-unit business park.
HP is moving out of Bracknell
According to the business park’s owners, the site’s location and facilties make it an ideal location for data centres or film production facilities.
Speaking in 2020, Greg Cooper, Hines UK director of industrial and logistics, said: “With excellent motorway links and the ability to serve such a large proportion of the population, Network West provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses looking to either expand or relocate their operations.
“The site’s wider appeal to data centre users and film production companies, a number whom have already enquired about bespoke facilities, is another avenue we are exploring.”
A planning application to knock down HP’s offices and build the business park was submitted to Bracknell Forest Council in August 2020 as a full proposal.
READ MORE: Here's where HP is moving to from Bracknell Forest
The new plan is a ‘prior approval’ proposal -- applications which are typically approved much quicker than full plans -- and asks simply for permission to demolish HP’s offices rather than asking for demolition and the building of the business park.
Should the plan go ahead, the demolition of the offices will take place in seven steps starting with asbestos removal.
HP is moving out of Bracknell
A soft strip of the site will take place after any hazardous material is removed, leading to the structural demolition of the buildings.
The underground structure would then be removed before brick and concrete is removed from the site.
A restoration of the site is the final step.
READ MORE: Why is HP moving out of Bracknell Forest
Bracknell Forest Council is currently considering the application.
Full details of the plan can be found by entering planning reference 21/00259/DEM at planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk
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