Capital in store for 500 jobs with Cameron Toll expansion

A 25 million expansion of the Cameron Toll complex has been unveiled which will see a second anchor store created on the site.

The centre, which already includes a Sainsbury's superstore, was bought by an Irish investment fund last year.

The expansion will also feature about ten other retail units, six new restaurants, a roof-top terrace and a cinema with five screens.

It is understood work is due to get under way within the year, subject to planning permission, and would take 18 months to complete.

Announcement of the scheme comes just weeks after plans to overhaul the St James Centre were approved.

A previous 21 million scheme to expand Cameron Toll, which featured a private health club and two-storey department store, was approved several years ago, but never came to fruition due to the centre changing ownership several times.

The new plans were unveiled by Dublin-based Warren Private Finance, which manages the investment fund, backed by a syndicate of Irish business figures who paid more than 80 million for the centre early last year.

The plans revealed today are the first phase of a long-term project to completely transform the complex, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The development is earmarked for land currently used for car parking at the southern end of the site.

Links will also be improved to nearby Inch Park under the current proposals.

Warren is also said to be planning to modernise the northern end of the existing mall, revamp the food court and completely overhaul the exterior of the centre.

The company will be embarking on a consultation exercise with neighbours and community groups in the next few days, ahead of a planning application being lodged with the city council.

A spokesman for Warren said: "Although Cameron Toll is very popular, we believe it is not fulfilling its potential, considering its catchment area."

Cameron Whyte, project director for the expansion, said it was aimed at "revitalising" the existing centre.

Tom Buchanan, economic development convener at the city council, said: "Obviously, at this time, I would be keen to progress any development which enhances the city and the Southside in particular."

News of the jobs will provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the city's retail sector and Cameron Toll in particular.

Stores to close at the centre in recent months include clothes retailer The Officer's Club and music and DVD retailer Zavvi, which went into administration, closing all its stores throughout the UK.

Staff at The Officer's Club were told on Christmas Eve that they had been made redundant after the struggling menswear retailer went into administration.