First shops nearly complete and Riverside car park to open before Christmas

Developer LXB Retail Properties says it is making steady progress on the Riverside development - with some of the first shop units nearing completion.

They will be home to branches of Marks & Spencer and Primark, which are due to open along with other shops including River Island and H&M next summer.

A footbridge over the River Sow, which will link the car park to the development on Bridge Street, is expected to be in place by the end of this month.

While the 1,000-space, 14-storey car park is due to open before Christmas, the developer confirmed today.

Carl Barrand, director at LXB, said: "We are very pleased with how it's all going. The retail side should be open in summer next year. The Primark and the M&S buildings are substantially up and we expect most of the units to be completed in terms of the frame construction by Christmas.

"It's taken a long time to come together but now it's going up very quickly."

As well as 18 shops, there will be restaurants and a cinema on the site, which was formerly home to the former Express & Star office, Chicago Rock Cafe and Love 2 nightclub.

The 19,000 sq ft development is expected to create 600 jobs for the area

The developer recently revealed the plans for the cinema had been expanded after securing a firm to run the attraction.

The multi-million pound scheme has been increased from a five-screen 700 seat complex to a six-screen 800 seat venue.

Mr Barrand said it was hoped the cinema would be open by the end of 2016.

Meanwhile work is continuing on a new Morrisons supermarket which is being built in North Walls. This is expected to bring an additional 300 jobs to the town.