A HANDRAIL at Wokingham Methodist Church and a section of Marks & Spencer’s car park could be subject to a compulsory purchase order (CPO) if an agreement between landowners and Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) cannot be reached.
Having secured planning permission for most of the site of the Peach Place redevelopment in March 2015, the council is now considering using CPO powers to secure the remainder of the necessary land rights and agreements, due to be considered by the executive on Thursday.
Under the plans for the site, the handrail would be rebuilt and the land handed back to the Methodist Church upon completion, and Marks & Spencer would not lose any parking spaces, but rather gain a new frontage from the proposed plaza.
Work is expected to start on site at Peach Place in early 2017.