Exciting plans for the next steps at Northgate, Bridgwater have been submitted to Sedgemoor District Council’s planning department.

A detailed planning application for the development of a new cinema and leisure scheme on council-owned land at Northgate in Bridgwater town centre can be found by searching for application 08/19/00166 on the planning section of the Sedgemoor District Council website.

Sedgemoor District Council consider that the Northgate scheme will be an important addition to the town centre, creating vitality, vibrancy and a key leisure activities for the growing town.

The scheme will comprise a 7-screen state of the art cinema operated by WTW-Scott Cinemas Ltd that will replace the existing Scott cinema nearby.

Alongside the cinema, four restaurants and bars will also be built and negotiations with potential operators are currently well advanced and tenants should be announced by the end of the year.

Above the restaurants, a multi-use unit will be available, that has potential for a number of different uses.

Sedgemoor District Council will be funding the project as a regeneration scheme, as well as a long-term investment.

A Sedgemoor District Council spokesman said: "Experienced architects, a design and property team comprising of Corstorphine and Wright, Aecom, Enborne Consultants and Montagu Evans have been appointed to assist Council staff in this new venture.

"The project is now well positioned and advanced in preparing for construction with detailed input into the design phases.

"A further report to Full Council will be prepared before the end of 2019 for authority to commit full development funding.

"It is anticipated that work on site could begin as early as June 2020 and opening in autumn 2021."

Other elements of the Northgate scheme have so far completed with the construction of Northgate Primary School and Blake Car Park. Supermarket Aldi are committed to building a new supermarket fronting Northgate (road) with construction due to start in 2020.

The final piece of the jigsaw will be enhancements and extension of Brewery Field and a consultation will take place during October 2019 to gather the thoughts of local people following which a separate planning application will be submitted.