Policy information sourced from the Bracknell Forest Local Plan 2024-2037.

LP 42: Smaller Businesses.

1. Development proposals in defined settlements that would assist small and start-up businesses and enable their expansion, including the creation of flexible floorspace and provision of sites will be permitted. Proposals should not result in unacceptable harm to:

  • highway safety; and,
  • residential amenity.

2. Proposals that result in the net loss of smaller business units (500m 2 or less GEA) will be permitted where:

  • adequate available alternative provision already exists in the locality, or the loss would be replaced by an equivalent or better facility in a suitable and accessible location; or,
  • the proposal is for an alternative economic use – the benefit of which clearly outweighs the loss; or
  • a robust assessment has been carried out demonstrating that:
    • the facility is no longer needed for any of the functions it performs; and,
    • all reasonable efforts have been made to retain the facility (including evidence to confirm that the property or site has been actively and positively marketed for a meaningful period with reasonable commercial terms and that there is no realistic interest in its retention for the current use); and,
    • it would no longer be economically viable, feasible or practicable to retain the building or site for its existing use or for it to be re-used for an alternative economic use.

For more information, please visit Bracknell Forest’s Local Plan document here.