Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) has this week issued an update on The Deck.
Open letter from BRP
“Since its launch in 2017, The Lexicon has become a much-loved shopping and leisure destination with a thriving mix of restaurants, retailers, and well-attended community events. Despite the economic challenges of recent years, The Lexicon remains busy and popular with international, as well as local brands. Due to our continued investment in the scheme, we have recently welcomed high profile new tenants including Sostrene Green, Five Guys, Robert Dyas and Giggling Squid.
“The Lexicon has also delivered several recent prestigious awards such as the Gold Award at the Global Ceremony of the ICSC in recognition of the Bracknell Forest Giants initiative which was delivered in partnership with BFC. A prestigious Golden Pineapple Award was also received in recognition of excellence in placemaking and community engagement. BRP are working hard to ensure The Lexicon is an environment friendly and welcoming place for all. Recent activity including the ongoing, renowned Bracknell Bees initiative, Neurodiversity Umbrella Project, community days, jobs fairs and the first Bracknell Forest Pride event in 2023, demonstrates this commitment.
“The next stage of the revitalisation of Bracknell town centre, The Deck, received planning permission in 2019 but plans were subsequently disrupted by the significant world wide effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. This delayed the demolition of the former department store, Bentalls, to start getting the site ready for construction, until the second half of 2021.
“A construction tender process was subsequently undertaken but, despite significant efforts by all involved, the substantial rises in construction costs and the wider effects of inflation that have affected every household and business in the country, combined with the change in market conditions post pandemic, have unfortunately made the original plans commercially unviable.
“This is not the end of the road for the area that The Deck was due to occupy, and we now have an opportunity to look at alternative proposals for the site that respond to the changing needs of the local community and help contribute to an already thriving town centre. We are already researching and developing new plans. It is early days for this major rethink, but we will be able to share clearer ideas in due course, with the ambition to prepare a fresh planning application.
“We will also be working with our partners at Bracknell Forest Council to consider a range of temporary uses that will allow us to utilise the space whilst longer term plans are developed.
“Both Bracknell Regeneration Partnership and Bracknell Forest Council remain committed to unlocking this exciting next stage of the town centre’s regeneration and ensuring Bracknell town centre continues to serve the needs of the local community.”
Tom Woolven – asset manager for Bracknell Regeneration Partnership
Bracknell Forest Council response
In response, Cllr Paul Bidwell, executive member for economic development and regeneration, has said:
“We know that residents will be disappointed that The Deck cannot progress in the form that was agreed back in 2019.”
“However, the world has changed significantly since then and BRP is clear that the development, in this guise, isn’t financially viable given rising costs and the impact of unforeseen global events.”
“What this does allow for is completely re-imagining how that site will be developed in line with current and predicted local shopping, leisure and market trends and needs.”
“BRP is already researching and developing plans for the site and, in the interim, we are very keen to support it being used for the benefit of the local community – using it as a meanwhile space for temporary activities and events.”
“We are committed to getting this site regenerated – it is a key part of our town centre redevelopment – and we will work with our partners to ensure it is taken forward and reflects what the local community needs and wants.”
