£80million town centre scheme gets go-ahead

THE major £80million scheme to redevelop Hinckley 's bus station site has today received the go-ahead from the Secretaries of State, who have confirmed both the Compulsory Purchase Order and the linked Highway Stopping Up Order

This follows a public inquiry that was held last November and means the developer - The Tin Hat Regeneration Partnership - can now secure all the land on the site, which will enable the scheme to be completed by the end of 2014. In addition to car parking and range of new retail and restaurant units the scheme will include a major new food store for Sainsbury's and a 5 screen cinema for Cineworld.

Council Leader Stuart Bray said: "This is fantastic news for the town and means we shall soon start to see things happening. The exciting new shopping and commercial scheme will give the town centre a further boost, thanks to a superstore, cinema, fashion shops, family restaurants and a major new shoppers' car park alongside a re-designed bus station.

"We are now looking forward to working with the developer on the construction programme."

In welcoming the decision, Tony Baker a director of Tin Hat, said: "This is a crucial step in securing the delivery of this important project for the future of Hinckley . It will not only improve the retail provision in the town centre but provide much-needed new employment. Whilst there are a number of steps to be completed before work starts on site we are now able to move forward with confidence knowing that the entire site can be delivered."