Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: March 17, 2026

Purpose: 1. To inform the Cabinet and seek their agreement of the content of a draft Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which is being produced to supplement the policies of the Bracknell Forest Local Plan. 2. Seek approval for public consultation on the draft SPD.

Content: RESOLVED that   i.      the content of the Draft Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix A) be approved.   ii.     public consultation on the Draft Masterplan SPD (Appendix A) be approved beginning on Wednesday 25th March and ending on Friday 24th April as set out in Section 8 of this report.   iii.    authority be delegated to the Executive Director: Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside to approve any necessary minor amendments to the Draft Masterplan SPD prior to public consultation.

Reasons for the decision: i.      Applications are being determined in accordance with the BFLP. It is important that associated guidance is provided to allow the effective assessment of masterplans in order to avoid ambiguity relating to types of sites requiring masterplans, and to set out the Council’s expectations in relation to the preparation and approval of masterplans.   ii.     A statutory stage in the production of a SPD is public consultation on a draft document. Therefore, an effective consultation on the Masterplan SPD will ensure it can be adopted and become a material consideration in the assessment of relevant masterplans.

Alternative options considered: i.      The Council could decide not to produce a SPD. The absence of an adopted up to date SPD would make the assessment of masterplans open to interpretation and could result in inconsistencies of approach.   ii.     Production of the SPD will assist potential developers by providing clarity on the Council’s expectations on how policies should be applied. In providing clarity, the Council is less likely to be put into an appeal position with a need to defend policies on these matters (reducing the financial and time burden on Council resources).   iii.    It should also be noted that due to forthcoming changes to plan making regulations, the Government has indicated that current provisions for the production of SPDs may cease on 30 June 20261. Therefore, delaying this consultation could result in the Council being unable to adopt the document as a SPD.