THE FUTURE and cost of the former site of a town centre supermarket bought by the council remains unknown.

On November 30 Wokingham Borough Council took ownership of the former Marks and Spencer site on Peach Street.

Councillor Stuart Munro, executive member for business and economic development and regeneration, welcomed news of the purchase, but would not say how much the council forked out for the property and what lay in store for its future.

He said: “When Marks and Spencer announced they were to close their Wokingham store in July as part of a national shift away from units of this type, the council made a decision to investigate purchasing the property.

"It’s an important site for the town centre as it faces onto Peach Street and Rose Street and is adjacent to the council’s Peach Place development.

“We will now evaluate opportunities this sites opens up. There are probably six or so options we are considering. I suppose housing is one of them.

"For us it’s important that the site is managed carefully to ensure it remains part of the town centre retail circuit and compliments our wider regeneration plans to create the kind of destination town that will bring people in to shop and enjoy themselves, and offer something different from our larger neighbours in Bracknell and Reading.”

Cllr Munro said he was not able to reveal how much the property had cost due to commercial sensitivity.

The council will now take over the management of the car park which will provide short-stay parking for the town centre and be free in the three weekends running up to Christmas.