WORK on refurbishing Princess Square will begin next week.
Around £30 million of investment is planned to transform the area and to develop ‘The Deck’ as the latest stage in the town centre’s regeneration gets underway.
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New escalators, lift lobbies, and an ‘impressive’ ceiling space with feature lighting will be part of the multi-million-pound upgrade.
Shoppers will also see new seating, toilets and a ‘brighter and more welcoming environment’ when works are expected to be completed in Spring 2020.
Councillor Marc Brunel- Walker, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Bracknell Forest Council (BFC), said: “The work to transform Princess Square is another step in the complete regeneration of Bracknell town centre, so I’m pleased the building work to create a modern, light and bright space has started in earnest.
“This will further build on The Lexicon’s success and enhance its appeal as the borough’s much-loved social and cultural heart.”
Work is set to begin on Monday (October 14).
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Last month the News asked architects for updates on Princess Square’s refurbishment and The Deck’s development.
Bosses said there was ‘no update’ more than six months on from the announcement of the plans.
In February, BFC’s top team gave the green light to push ahead with the proposals, which will see The Deck link to the refurbished Princess Square.
The former Bentalls unit will be turned into a vibrant new public space once work is finished in 2022.
BFC is putting £4.5 million of its own money to develop The Deck, a move which was made in order to persuade the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership to invest in a “major refurbishment” of the land at Princess Square and to take forward work at The Deck, according to a council report.
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Since The Lexicon opened two years ago, Bracknell has been lifted to number 29 from 255 in rankings for the best shopping destinations in the UK.
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