Two new retailers have been announced for Bracknell’s new Lexicon shopping centre – and they are both stores that already have branched in Wokingham town centre.
The Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP) announced this morning that clothes store Fat Face and mobile communication company Carphone Warehouse will be moving in when it opens next September.
Last month, the consortium revealed that Smiggle, Beaverbrooks and Footlocker had also signed up and now 70% of the new development is let.
Lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer Fat Face will be based on The Avenue, one of the new streets for fashion in the Lexicon, with the new Marks and Spencer and Fenwick stores book-ending the street.
Carphone Warehouse will be relocating from its store in Princess Square into a new larger store on Braccan Walk, opposite the new Primark store.
New opening date announced
BRP has also announced that the new scheme will open on September 7 next year.
The opening has been rescheduled to coincide with the completion of the upgrading of some of the materials and buildings in the scheme, as well as the completion of new public spaces.
The one year to go milestone was marked on Tuesday with the completion of the cladding for the new Fenwick store: the final piece was lifted into place to complete the external featue walls.
Clad in cast natural aluminium panels, the building features random perforations that form a waved pattern which act as a veil to the retail activity beyond. These perforated panels are specially back-lit which create a markedly different experience through the day and at night.
Hugo Fenwick, Trading Director of Fenwick, said: “We are delighted to be opening our first new Fenwick in over a decade at The Lexicon Bracknell.
“This façade is a real feature of this store and will form a dramatic backdrop to the Lexicon creating a markedly different experience during the day and at night.
“It is excellent that the construction of the scheme is progressing well alongside the breadth of tenants that have recently signed up.
“We look forward to commence fitting out our store in earnest later this autumn in readiness for launch in 2017.”
Brexit had no impact
Simon Russian, development manager for Legal & General on behalf of the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, says: “Whilst there has been some uncertainty in the economy over the last couple of months following the EU referendum, interest in The Lexicon from occupiers has remained strong. This is demonstrated by the impressive line-up of lettings over the past month or so.
“We have a number of other lettings in the pipeline. Now that the opening date has been confirmed in the late summer next year, we are confident that The Lexicon will deliver a fantastic shopping and dining experience from day one and for many years to come.”
And Bracknell Forest Council is pleased with the way in which progress is going on the development.
Cllr Marc Brunel-Walker, executive member for economic development and regeneration, says: “I am thrilled major retail names are continuing to secure their place at The Lexicon Bracknell and am excited for shoppers across the region who will enjoy them in such a fantastic environment.”
