SHOPS in Bracknell town centre will remain open as usual this summer despite regeneration work to remove a concrete canopy over Stanley Walk starting this week.

Work to transform the shopping street started on Monday, August 1 with the old concrete slab canopy set to be replaced with a new, modern roof during 12 weeks of construction.

Scaffolding foundations will be erected along the length of the street to enable work to take place and transform it into the southern end of the soon-to-be built Braccan Walk a key shopping street in £240m regeneration project, The Lexicon.

Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for economic development and regeneration, said: “This is an exciting stage of work as it brings another area of the town centre into the regeneration scheme and provides something of a preview of how Braccan Walk will look as a whole."

Bracknell Forest Council and the regeneration partnership have thanks residents and business for their understanding while the "essential" work takes place.

Simon Russian, development manager, for Legal and General on behalf of Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, said: "Although Stanley Walk will be an area undergoing transformation for this period, these works are essential to transform Stanley Walk into the stylish promenade that Braccan Walk will become.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused and remain committed to keeping disruption to a minimum while these works are carried out."

The Lexicon, one of the biggest regeneration projects currently underway in the UK, is due to open in spring 2017.