The London developer saw off competition from three major housebuilders to secure the £35m Market Street contract, as part of the Vision for Newbury 2025.

The scheme will involve building a cobbled piazza where the bus station is, surrounded by cafes and convenience stores, and linked directly to the railway station. We also understand that Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsburys are interested in opening smaller stores on site.

Station Approach and the council car park, Conservative Club car park, and both railway car parks will all be developed, with up to 600 spaces at risk.

Council sources indicated that trade unions are in discussion about council staff parking arrangements during the two-year programme, with Faraday Road football ground earmarked for 300 permit-holders.

Grainger is expected to start on site next August, just weeks before contractors for Park Way’s new shopping centre begin demolishing historic buildings and digging out thousands of tonnes of earth for an underground car park.

Meanwhile, Network Rail is finalizing plans for a major upgrade of Newbury station as part of the package, in another £10m deal.

New bus stops and taxi ranks will be included, while the bus station will be replaced by a row of bus stops in Park Way.