CONSTRUCTION work on the new-look Bromsgrove High Street is to finally get underway next week.

Funding for the town centre regeneration was first agreed by Bromsgrove District Council and Worcestershire County Council in 2010.

Although various preparatory work has been carried out, residents and councillors became frustrated at the delay of the project.

Preparatory work began last year with improvements to High Street lighting and drainage. Resurfacing work in Worcester Road has been carried out in recent weeks, while public realm work near ASDA and improvements to Clegg's Entry - the ancient church way connecting High Street with Crown Close - has been completed.

But it is the work to tranform the town's High Street that is the most anticipated part of the regeneration work and it has now been announced this will get underway on Monday, February 17.

The £2 million revamp is an ambitious reconstruction project.

Worcestershire County Council say natural stone and granite paving materials will be used to create a new main resufaced walkway that, combined with new street furniture, will create a unique and striking avenue down High Street.

It is being proposed the town centre is split into distinct zones and areas including the carriageway, footways, key gateways, the street market, street cafe areas and a new town square around the Housman statue.

It is proposed the key routes into the town centre will be designed to make visitors welcome through the use of paving, public art, signs and lighting.

Small trees are to be planted in clusters to replace the ones felled last year. Smaller trees have been chosen to bring in more light, and prevent them from obstructing movement and the views of popular historic buildings.

Another of the aims of the revised layout is to ensure easy movement down the High Street on market days.

The county council is estimating it will take 22 weeks to compete the construction work; finishing around mid-July.

Leading the project is the Town Centre Regeneration Partnership, made up of the district and county councils, Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue and West Mercia Police.

Bromsgrove District Council leader Roger Hollingworth said: "It has been a long wait - much longer than I ever anticipated.

"But with the High Street work starting next week, the construction of the joint new police and fire station nearly finished, and work on transforming the Parkside building set to begin, people can see the regeneration is taking shape."

For more details on the town centre regeneration visit betterbromsgrove.com/regeneration.