It was revealed that Mace, a British-owned international construction and consultancy company that also built the new Garth Hill College building in 2011, has been appointed as the main contractor for the £200m works.

Work has also been fast-tracked to begin in earnest on Monday, March 23, instead of the original planned starting date of June.

Steel work will begin in June, while the construction timetable is programmed to allow the first retailers to start fitting out their units from August of next year in time to open in the spring of 2017.

Gareth Lewis, chief operating officer for construction at Mace, said: "I am delighted that Mace has been appointed main contractor for this significant regeneration scheme for Bracknell.

"We're ready to go and we can't wait to get started. This is a wonderful scheme and it is the most exciting regeneration project in the south east. I firmly believe that."

Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) also announced at the private ceremony in Charles Square today (Friday) that popular Asian restaurant chain Wagamama is the latest big name to sign up to the project.

It has agreed to take up a 3,200 sq ft space next to the new 12-screen cinema.

Paul Bettison, leader of Bracknell Forest Council, said: "It goes without saying that the town centre has been a long time coming and it has been a challenge to keep the momentum up but as a council we are so pleased we can finally provide a town centre fit for our residents, businesses and visitors.

"For residents there has always been that element of uncertainty. I hope that this landmark event will show that the town centre they have been waiting for for so long will become a reality."

Other retailers already signed up to the scheme include a new 80,000 sq ft Fenwick store, Marks & Spencer, Primark and H&M.

Cineworld has committed to a new 12-screen cinema, while eight restaurants have also signed up - Carluccio's, Zizzi, Coast To Coast, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Pizza Express, Wagamama, Nando's and Las Iguanas.