Last updated:
15th June 2026
Investment
An investment to benefit future generations
We invested more than £150 million in the regeneration of Wokingham town centre. It was financed by a combination of our borrowing, receipts from sales of residential properties, contributions from partners and over £7 million funding from developers building new homes in the area.
We decided from the outset that the regeneration should pay for itself, with no additional cost to council tax payers. To do this, we are re-paying our borrowing over time with the rental income from commercial units in the town centre and the sale or rent of housing.
Once we've paid back our borrowing, we'll be able to invest this income in your day-to-day services - from household waste collection and maintaining the roads to social care and more.
Numbers that add up as communities grow
Our investment also had a financial aim of giving an immediate and lasting boost for the local economy.
The 217 new homes built during the regeneration were estimated to bring about £4 million of additional spending into the local economy, while the retail offer was expected to create more than 550 new permanent jobs and apprenticeships. More than 350 construction jobs were created during the build.
As part of the planning process, we also had to make a developer contribution of about £4 million to fund local infrastructure like roads, schools and green spaces, adding to the gains for the community.
This means the regeneration of Wokingham town centre will help make our borough a great place to live, work and do business for many decades to come.
