AFTER a nearly 20 year wait the date for the grand opening of Bracknell town centre's long-promised regeneration project has been set.

New streets of shops and restaurants in The Lexicon will finally open to the public in just under one year's time on September 7, 2017, it can be revealed today, along with the creation of around 3,500 new jobs.

The opening date, first estimated for spring 2017, has been pushed back due to extra investment in better materials for the buildings and so that the finer details can be perfected in time for visitors next year.

Simon Russian, development manager for Legal and General on behalf of the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) said the extra weeks of work would mean The Lexicon was finished to the highest standard before visitors start shopping.

He said: "We want the scheme to be spot on from the first day. We want residents to come in and think 'wow' when they first see it all, we want the men in high-vis jackets gone and for people to be able to enjoy The Lexicon.

"We want everything done to meet visitors' expectations, hopefully exceed their expectations. We are very grateful for all their patience while the work has been going on."

Bracknell News:

Putting in place the final piece of cladding for the new Fenwicks store on Tuesday Photo: Paul Johns

News of the final finish date comes as BRP reveal around 70 per cent of the space available has already been pre-let, with nearly 400,000 sq ft of floor space ear marked for new shops and restaurants.

The latest of the new shops to sign up to the £240m project is clothing store Fat Face, who will open in a 5,500 sq ft space along the soon-to-be completed dedicated fashion street 'The Avenue'.

Carphone Warehouse have also announced they will move from their store in Princess Square to a new shop opposite Primark in Braccan Walk, formerly Charles Square.

Marc Brunel-Walker, Bracknell Forest Council's executive member for the regeneration, said: "I'm really excited, we now have a date, we will have the town centre residents have been waiting for for ten to 20 years and for the first time we have a concrete date to look to.

"We are investing more money, we are making our town centre better. We have been waiting 20 years so far, just a few more weeks and we will have the most amazing town centre for the borough."

Bracknell News:

How The Avenue, a new street dedicated to fashion stores, will look in 2017.

Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, River Island and Next are among the big names already signed up for The Lexicon, along with the recently announced additions of Beaverbrooks and stationery store Smiggle.

Wagamama's, Nandos and Zizzi are among the restaurants due to open in Eagle Lane, with The Bull pub currently undergoing a major refurbishment and extension project in time for next year's opening.