Waitrose has today announced plans to open a new 36,000ft² store in Bracknell town centre that will create up to 180 new jobs.The proposed multi-million pound supermarket and car park will be located on land between Millennium Way and Bond Way, which has been vacant since the demolition of Imation House in 2008.Subject to planning permission, which is expected to be determined in February 2011, the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership aims to start building the store in April 2011 with Waitrose welcoming its new customers by Spring 2012 at the latest.The supermarket will become the first new store to be built in Bracknell town centre for more than 25 years and will kick-start the wider regeneration programme. Waitrose Director of Development, Nigel Keen, said: “Bracknell has been home to our Head Office for nearly 40 years and we are delighted to now be in a position to be making such a major investment in the town, which can deliver secure employment to even more local people.”We have had a long-standing ambition to open a store which can offer a full range of products in the town centre and this provides us with the perfect platform to achieve that. This is an excellent opportunity to create an attractive gateway into the town centre and demonstrates our confidence in Bracknell’s future as a vibrant retail destination.”Helen Barnett, marketing manager at BRP says: “We are absolutely delighted that Waitrose, with its undoubted reputation for quality, will be part of the regeneration scheme. With such a strong heritage in the town, it is fitting that they will become one of the scheme’s key retail partners.”This follows hot on the heels of our announcement of the planning application submitted to transform the entrance to Princess Square and reinforces our strategy for a staged approach to regenerating the town centre.”Cllr Paul Bettison, Leader of Bracknell Forest Council, said: “As Bracknell Forest is the home of Waitrose, we are delighted they are planning on opening a new store in the town centre.”Along with Bracknell Regeneration Partnership, the council is committed to delivering a comprehensive redevelopment scheme for the town centre. “If approved, the new store will help to deliver a key part of the town centre regeneration, bringing with it a state-of-the-art building and new jobs for local people. The proposal is the product of a lot of hard work by our development partners and the council.”I’m sure the new store will be a catalyst for further development, helping to deliver a town centre which the people of Bracknell Forest can be proud of.”Today’s announcement builds on the multi-million pound overhaul of the supermarket’s distribution centre in Bracknell which is already underway to improve its storage and distribution efficiency. The first phase of the project is complete with its new chilled warehouse now fully operational.*Waitrose Director of Development, Nigel Keen, adds: “The continued investment in the development of our Head Office and distribution centre only further underlines our commitment to the town and our determination to succeed in delivering the long-term growth targets of our business.”