Backing for Ascot planning document despite parking and cycling fears

A key planning document which sets out a vision to ‘transform Ascot into a vibrant, sustainable and well-connected town centre’ has been approved by cabinet members – despite concerns from residents over parking and cycling.

The Ascot placemaking supplementary planning document (SPD) was discussed at a meeting on Tuesday (July 22).

The SPD has been designed to support the already-approved Borough Local Plan, which identifies land for hundreds of new homes in Ascot.

It will help guide future development and makes suggestions for improvements in the centre of Ascot, such as better pedestrian crossings and improved street furniture.

The SPD follows a consultation last year, which generated more than 550 online responses.

At Tuesday’s meeting, residents continued to voice their worries about the likely increase in traffic congestion and the lack of parking in Ascot.

One resident, Jackie Tomlinson said: “For us, as local people, I think it will turn out to be quite a rough deal.

“Parking is critical to the lifeblood of this High Street… If parking spaces are not properly allocated, I cannot see how the plan to regenerate the High Street will succeed.

“It will become a no-go area for local people and the only people benefiting from its implementations would be those living in the new houses.”

Outline plans have already been approved to redevelop a waste and recycling facility into 131 new homes.

Another application for 101 homes, including flats and houses was sent to RBWM in April this year. The area is currently being used as overflow parking for Ascot Racecourse.

Other applications are due to be considered by the Royal Borough council individually as part of the town’s rejuvenation, while more than 200 homes were also approved at the former Heatherwood Hospital site in 2022.

In response to Mrs Tomlinson’s concerns about parking, Councillor Adam Bermange, cabinet member for planning, said: “There is this issue regarding parking in Ascot which I have come to look at as both a blessing and a curse.

“We have got quite a lot of off-street parking available but nearly all of that is provided at the discretion of the Windsor authority and the Crown Estate.”

The SPD outlines plans to ‘retain the leafy prevailing green and leafy character of the area’ and cycling is part of this strategy.

Resident Martin Richardson said he had concerns about the final plans, which remove the cycling lanes on Ascot High Street East which were previously proposed.

Mr Richardson said: “This isn’t just disappointing, it’s deeply problematic. The final SPD still states Ascot High Street is dominated by vehicles and vehicle infrastructure to the detriment of people walking, wheeling and using cycle lanes.

“But what was two lanes of traffic and two parking lanes remains unchanged. No provision is made for safe coherent and direct cycle access to these core retail centres.”

Cllr Bermange said the cycle lanes were removed after the overall community feedback and the rest of the development were considered.

However, the segregated cycle ways in High Street West and Station Hill were kept, to link the Heatherwood site and the wider Bracknell cycle network.

The cost of the improvements to the Heatherwood cycle link is estimated to reach £2,813,250 and the work should be completed over the next five years.

Cllr Bermange added: “Being able to do that and being able to direct funding to secure that infrastructure upgrade needed is a good achievement of this SPD.”

Other improvements for the area include a new pedestrian crossing on Station Hill and Ascot High Street East, as well as a new accessible bus stop on the High Street.

Councillor Julian Sharpe (Con, Ascot and Sunninghill) said: “There are going to be approximately 700 new houses within a 10-minute walk of the new Ascot centre.

“Currently there are about 100.

“This is going to bring two thousand new residents to the village centre.

“All of these people will need places to go to shop, meet friends, neighbours.

“So, we need this SPD to deliver a world-class village centre for the new community in Ascot which is what the current and new residents in Ascot expect this council to deliver.”