£80m Hinckley bus station and cinema revamp go ahead

The developers are due to complete work by 2014

Plans for an £80m regeneration project in a Leicestershire town have been given the go ahead.

The project, known as The Crescent, will involve the construction of a new bus station, supermarket and multiplex cinema in Hinckley.

Various proposals for the site - at the town's old bus station - have been discussed over the past 12 years.

Work on the scheme is expected to start in 2012 and is due to be completed by 2014.

Stuart Bray, leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said he believed the redevelopment would transform the town.

"There will also be a bowling alley, new cafes and restaurants, 18 new shops and a car park," he said.

"A number of businesses will need to relocate and the developers have been in extensive talks with all of those over the last few years.

"Most of them are perfectly fine with it, they've known it's been coming for a long time so they have made alternative arrangements."

However, the council said it was waiting for two local firms to accept the relocation proposition.

The project will be carried out by The Tin Hat Regeneration Partnership, a joint venture between Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd, Centenary Ashcroft, Sainsbury's and Cineworld.