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Wokingham Town Centre - Peach Place Redevelopment
- Client
- Wokingham Borough Council, Wilson Bowden Developments Limited
- Services
- Architecture
- Sector
- Urban Design, Mixed Use, Residential, Retail
- Location
- Wokingham, UK
- Awards
- RTPI Award 2020 • ULI Europe Award for Excellence (2021)
Award-winning regeneration restores town identity
Peach Place replaced an outdated 1960s shopping parade in the heart of Wokingham’s conservation area, directly opposite the Grade II-listed Town Hall. Benoy won a local authority competition to transform the site for Wokingham Borough Council and Wilson Bowden Developments, drawing on the town’s red brick architectural heritage, nature reserves and character as a peaceful commuter town within reach of London.
Dates2019
Size
6,500m²
A civic heart for the community
The design centres around a new public square that gives the town a civic focal point it previously lacked. Surrounding the square, a mixed-use programme brings together retail, restaurants, 215 new homes and a large accessible park and play area. The streetscape was developed through careful analysis of Wokingham’s historic scale, materials and urban grain, adding new energy to the high street while remaining respectful of the conservation area.
Sustainable design for the long term
The project has generated over £4 million in annual income from commercial rents and created 550 permanent jobs, a measurable contribution to the local economy. Close collaboration with stakeholders including planners and the local community ensured strategic and operational success while preserving the distinct local character of the scheme. As a model of council-led mixed-use regeneration, the project offers a transferable approach for town centres seeking to reinvigorate local economies without sacrificing historic identity.
