New cinema and shops planned for Gloucester Quays

The plans feature a new cinema, restaurants and shops

Plans have been unveiled for a new £60m leisure quarter development at Gloucester Quays.

The proposal would see the building of a new 10-screen cinema, restaurants, shops and bars.

Developer Peel Holdings said the project would create 500 new jobs in the retail and leisure sector.

If plans are approved, work could begin on the first part of the project in early 2012 with a planned opening by the summer of 2013.

The existing retail park will be refurbished as part of the scheme, with the new cinema being built above shops on High Orchard Street.

Plans have also been unveiled for a new health and fitness centre.

The leader of Gloucester City Council, Paul James, said: "The cinema will generate the footfall to support the restaurants. It will also generate footfall for evening shopping.

"We know that the Peel Centre cinema is a pretty tired facility and we lose a lot of people going to other places, the Brewery in Cheltenham in particular.

"By having a new digital state-of-the-art cinema we can keep those people in Gloucester."