BRACKNELL was dubbed 'Town of the Year' at a Thames Valley-wide awards ceremony last night. 

Described as 'up and coming', the town beat off competition from nearby Reading to win the accolade in the Thames Valley Property Awards.

Judges looked for a town and management team which had enhanced the area over a period of time with a successful town centre strategy. 

Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for economic development and regeneration at Bracknell Forest Council said: "We are over the moon that Bracknell has won this award and been recognised as an up and coming town.  With the scale of the regeneration work clearly visible and developing rapidly, we can say with confidence that Bracknell is clearly a town to be proud of.

"This award is a real boost for Bracknell and testament to our many partners who are investing  not only in the town centre but the borough as a whole."

The award comes ahead of the completion of the £240m project to regenerate the town centre. 

The Lexicon Bracknell is on track to open in spring 2017 with a host of new shops, restaurants and a 12-screen Cineworld complex.

Simon Russian, development manager at Legal & General on behalf of the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, said: “Winning this award is a fantastic accolade for Bracknell. With its great attractions and surrounding woodland, the town is a great place to live, work and visit. And with the work going on to regenerate the town centre, we are confident Bracknell will become an even more vibrant and engaging destination. 

“The next year is set to be one of the most exciting in the town’s history as we move towards the opening of The Lexicon in Spring 2017.”