First stores open at Bracknell Lexicon shopping centre

Marks & Spencer’s [M&S] new steel-framed 7,400m² department store is the first shop to open at Bracknell’s £250M shopping complex.

Known as The Lexicon, the scheme is a shopping and leisure destination, which is said to offer a vibrant mix of brands and experiences and a high-quality mix of shops and venues connected in a pedestrian-friendly environment.

The project is set to reinvigorate a large swathe of the new town, as the local authority begins a large regeneration project.

Phase one of the scheme consisted of the construction of a steel-framed Waitrose that was completed in 2011. Acting as one of the anchors for the overall scheme, this structure was fabricated, supplied and erected by Billington Structures.

Phase two, which kicked off on site in 2015 covers an area of 60,000m² and comprises two department stores (including M&S), retail units, restaurants and cafes, a 12-screen cinema, multi-storey car park and 92 apartments.

Working on behalf of Mace, Severfield fabricated, supplied and erected 4,200t of steel for phase two.

The majority of Lexicon’s phase two is scheduled to open during the next two weeks.