A reduction in the number of flats being provided at one of the biggest planned developments in Bracknell is among the latest planning news this week.
Developer S2 has reduced housing numbers for its massive Bracknell Beeches plan, which involves building seven towers to replace seven current office buildings south of the railway line.
Meanwhile, KFC has applied to extend operating hours for its drive-through.
READ MORE: Biggest developments coming to Bracknell in 2022 that could change the town forever
In Wokingham Borough, a plan has been submitted to convert a chicken shed into four homes, and the owner has applied to do extensive works in converting a historic pub into a home.
To get more details for plans within Bracknell Forest, enter the planning reference in brackets at planapp.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/online-applications/.
To see plans in Wokingham, head to the borough council planning portal: planning.wokingham.gov.uk/FastWebPL/welcome.asp .
Flats and affordable housing axed for huge Bracknell Beeches development (21/00701/FUL)
The number of flats at the massive Bracknell Beeches development has been reduced.
The height of three of the proposed buildings has been reduced after public consultation, meaning the number of flats proposed has gone down from 377 to 349.
To achieve this reduction of 28 flats, the size of buildings A, B and C, which are interconnected, has been reduced from eight storeys to six storeys.
Car parking in the buildings would be provided on the ground floor, a basement level and in a podium car park as well.
But the reduction in the apartments proposed has meant a reduction in affordable houses provided, down to 13 per cent.
The changes were addressed at a Bracknell Town Council planning meeting this week.
Extension of hours for KFC drive-thru (21/01091/FUL)
The franchise-owner of the KFC in Bagshot Road, Bracknell has applied to extend the opening hours of the drive-through until 2am.
Currently, the drive-through closes at 11pm.
It is also asking to limit opening hours in the morning.
Although KFC has permission to open at 7am, it actually opens to serve customers from 10.30am onwards, so the franchise-owner is asking to regularise that in the planning application.
Finally, it is asking to shut the night time barriers at closing from midnight, as it is now, to 2.30am each day.
Bid to convert chicken shed into homes in Binfield (Wokingham app 220051)
The owners of Stokes Farm in Binfield have submitted a plan to convert a barn into four homes.
The application would see an existing chicken shed converted to provide one five-bedroom and three one-bedroom homes.
The five-bedroom would have a lounge, dining room and a family bathroom.
The three one-bedroom homes would all come with a double-bed, an ensuite, a shower and an open plan kitchen and living room.
The conversion of buildings into homes is allowed under ‘permitted development’ rules, which were changed in 2013 to speed up the delivery of new homes in the country.
The owners have submitted this prior approval application to establish the conversion and make sure issues such as road access are accepted by the local planning authority.
Although the farm is in Binfield, it actually falls within the parish of St Nicholas, Hurst, meaning the owners have had to apply to Wokingham Borough Council for planning consent.
Works to historic pub in Arborfield (Wokingham app 214116)
The owner of the Old Swan in Arborfield Cross has applied to do work in the project of converting it into a home.
The building used to serve as a pub but approval was granted to convert it into a home in May 2018.
Now, the owner wants to replace the existing car park tarmac with permeable gravel, improve the drainage for the building, build a low brick wall to replace the old gates, and conduct garden landscaping.
They also want to replace four windows and a door at back of the home.
The Old Swan is Grade II listed, dating back to the late 15th century.
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