VIDEO and PICTURES: First look inside Stafford's £100m Riverside centre
Tall grey pillars, modern glass fronts and a decorative stone floor, all shielded from the elements beneath an elegantly curved transparent cover.
This is the first look inside the new £100 million Riverside shopping centre in Stafford, which is fast taking shape.
It has clearly been designed as a new gateway into the town for visitors who will park at the recently opened 14-storey 1,000 space car park and cross a newly installed footbridge over the River Sow.
The first stores will open in August with anchor retailer M&S set to be one of the first to welcome customers.
Stafford Borough Council leader Patrick Farrington said: "I am very excited about what is happening here. You can smell the newness. There is certainly a modern feel about it.
"The other main part is the bridge linking to the multi-storey car park.
"It is coming along fantastically well.
"There is modern architectural design which you would expect from any regenerated town centre.
"But we still have a good mix of history and heritage. It is obviously going to create 600 jobs and it is a fantastic opportunity for our residents."
The retail centre has 100 per cent take up now with Primark, H&M and New Look among the other big names to commit to the complex.
Meanwhile, the shops will be joined by a host of well-known chain restaurants including Chiquito, Nando's, Prezzo and the recently confirmed Coast to Coast. A Revolution bar has already opened on the waterfront.
It was also recently revealed that Odeon would be taking on ownership of the new six-screen 800-seat cinema which is set to raise its curtain next spring.
But Councillor Farrington denied Riverside would be the new 'focal point' for Stafford declaring it would 'complement' the existing shops and leisure facilities.
The council recently reaffirmed its commitment to regenerate the north end of town which will include a £500,000 spruce up of the Guildhall shopping centre.
