Cramlington £200m redevelopment 'to create 500 new jobs'
Plans for a £200m redevelopment of a Northumberland shopping centre have been given the go-ahead.
The regeneration of Manor Walks Shopping Centre in Cramlington will include a cinema, restaurants and increased car parking.
The developers say up to 500 new jobs will be created at the cinema, in retail and restaurants and in the construction process.
Work will start early next year and is expected to be completed by early 2013.
The restaurants will be in the existing unused retail units in the South Malland area of the centre.
Councillor Alan Armstrong, ward member for Cramlington Village, said: "I think the cinema and restaurants will be really good for the town and will have knock-on benefits for the town as a whole."
Planners voted unanimously to approve the Hammerson development on Wednesday.
John Grinnell, project director at Hammerson, said they were "delighted" with the outcome.
"We have worked hard over a number of years, in partnership with Northumberland County Council and the local community, to bring forward these plans.
"We look forward to working with people locally as the development progresses."