The revamp of Farnborough town centre has taken a giant step forward as builders finally started work on the first phase of a huge retail, leisure and housing project.

While the Mayor of Rushmoor, Alan Ferrier, was on hand to lead an official groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, the diggers and heavy machinery were already rolling to get things under way.

The start of the building work, led by construction firm Rok, is almost a year behind schedule after problems installing underground pipes and cables led to delays.

But Tim Seddon, regional director of St Modwen, one of the partner companies responsible for the redevelopment, said he was confident that people would be doing their Christmas shopping at the first phase of the centre before the end of 2009.

Mr Seddon also said there should be some news on the start date for the delayed eight-screen Vue cinema at the southern end of the town later this week.

When completed, the £80m redevelopment will also include a new Sainsbury's supermarket and 30 other shops, car parks, a bingo hall and a 70-bedroom hotel.
 
The groundbreaking ceremony also brought out representatives from Thames Valley Housing Association, which will take charge of 26 new affordable homes on the site.

For more on the work, see this week's Farnborough News, out on Thursday, November 20.