Bracknell: The Deck opening date, cost, shops, bars, restaurants

But how much do you know about the redevelopment?

Here’s everything we know about The Deck.

What is it?

The Deck is a new covered public space which will feature space for new shops, bars, restaurants, leisure, entertainment and more.

It will be developed where the former Bentall’s department store stood and will link Princess Square and The Lexicon together.

Once complete, Bracknell will have a new two-level public square between The Bull pub and the former Bentall’s store — a spot developers hope will “become the focal point of the town centre”.

Bentalls has been demolished to clear the way for The Deck. The demolition was meant to be finished in May 2021 so that work could begin on buildin The Deck in early summer. 

Contractors made good progress on the demolition in July, and the old department store was finally levelled at the end of August. 

What can we expect from it?

Fourteen new units will be created in total, with plans for a nightclub also outlined in initial proposals.

We already know two tenants set to move into the town centre once The Deck is complete.

Back in March, it was announced cocktail bar The Botanist and bowling alley Hollywood Bowl would be joining in with the redevelopment of the town.

READ MORE: Hollywood Bowl preparing for move to The Deck

It is anticipated the bowling alley will not open until 2023, however.

We also know the new space will come with a roof, as revised plans for The Deck revealed back in July.

With this covering overhead, public events such as markets, concerts, shows, temporary ice rinks and an open-air cinema could take place on the upper floor underneath.

When will work start?

Following the confirmation of a cash injection from the taxpayer’s purse, work on the project is one step closer to getting underway.

Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, the developers spearheading the project, will get almost £1 million from public funds — cash needed to kickstart the project after an economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

READ MORE: Funding approved for Bracknell regeneration project 'The Deck'

With this money secured, it is hoped work can start on the demolition of Bentall’s in January, according to council regeneration boss Marc Brunel-Walker.

He said: “The scheme is shovel-ready. We will be able to get people on site from January. It’s ready to go.”

Ads for leasings of the new units are already being advertised on a property website, with rental costs ranging from £60,000 to £143,000 per year.

READ MORE: Developers of The Deck say start date is 'under review'

Now that demolition work is complete, contractors will begin work on building The Deck. 

When will work be complete?

It was initially hoped that tenants could start moving into units in The Deck in April 2022, ready for a grand opening that August. 

However, after the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked for an update on the progress of the project, The Lexicon's general manager Rob Morris said The Deck would have an anticipated opening in 2023. 

READ MORE: Reactions to new retailers announced for The Deck

The report indicated 60 per cent of units planned for The Deck are expected to be filled by 2022, 80 per cent in 2023 and 100 per cent in 2024.

The Deck is behind schedule — one of the partners involved in the project originally told retailers units would be available from Spring 2019.

Planning permission was originally granted for The Deck in March 2017, with the inclusion of a condition that work should start three years from approval date or the permission would be made revoked.

READ MORE: Why developers of The Deck asked for £1 million in taxpayer funds

But work on one of the units (Unit 14, former McDonald’s) was sufficient enough to trigger consent for works to carry on.

How much will it cost?

Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) — a joint venture made up of offshore financial services company Legal & General and real estate investors Schroders UK — is the group paying for most of the development.

Around £12 million will be invested in The Deck by the BRP.

The Partnership has already shelled out £1 million in scheme appraisal costs, according to the WSP report.

A further £6 million in public money is being contributed by Bracknell Forest Council.

And as revealed last week, £955,882 will come from taxpayer cash funnelled to the project via the Department for Transport.