Taunton's Firepool regeneration project ideas unveiled

The hope is to create space for a hotel, cinema, shops and restaurants along the waterfront

A fresh set of plans to regenerate the derelict cattle market site in Taunton into a shopping and leisure complex have been unveiled.

Part of the Firepool site, which is by the River Tone, has already been developed with flats and offices.

Several different ideas for developing the area have been proposed since 2004, and the cattle market closed in 2008.

The revised plans include a cinema, hotel, shops and restaurants and supermarket.

Developer St Modwen wants to seek public views and make any changes before it formally submits the planning application.

Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, John Williams, said Taunton was "one of the fastest growing towns in the region".

A series of public consultations are being held before the developer formally hands in the planning application

"But Taunton needs to be competitive and provide high-quality facilities to attract continued inward investment and satisfy the needs of its growing population and the mix of uses proposed achieves just that," he said.

The plans will also see cycle and pedestrian routes improved between the railway station and the town centre.

Pam Knight, chief executive of Taunton Forward, said she was "quite pleased with the mix" of the plans.

"Primarily we want things that are going to bring business and footfall into Taunton because it is struggling in some of those areas at the moment.

"We've got a one-off opportunity to get this right, to change the future for Taunton."

The public consultations will be held on 11 and 12 September.