Capital Shopping Centres Group plc, the owners of the Victoria Centre, submitted exciting plans to Nottingham City Council that would see major expansion at Nottingham's most popular shopping centre. The detailed plans cover every aspect of the proposed £240m extension of the current centre that would expand it by 50% and create over 2,000 permanent new jobs.   

After consulting widely, the proposed improvements have been refined and have the backing of local residents, shoppers, the business community, and politicians. New images were published that show what shoppers can expect from the new centre.     

CSC made five commitments as it submitted its plans: 

1. A commitment to jobs - as well as 2,000 permanent new jobs, we will need 500 people a year to build the centre and we pledge to train local people into jobs as well as create opportunities for local businesses to work on the extension

2. A commitment to families - we will bring an even better range of shops and new brands to Nottingham, and create a safe and friendly place for families to come to eat and enjoy films.  

3. A commitment to transport - we will deliver a brand new modern bus station with a pleasant waiting area linked directly into the centre. We will also improve access across the centre with a new crossing point from St Ann's to the city centre 

4. A commitment to Nottingham's design heritage - the architecture has been developed in line with Nottingham's urban design guide and features sandstone and faience in keeping with the city's iconic buildings. We will improve the entrance around the clock tower to restore this as a focal point for the city. 

5. A commitment to deliver - our plans have been developed and delivered for planning approval on time. With the support of the local authority, work could start on the main contract as soon as 2012.  

Submitting plans today, Richard Bowler, Victoria Centre Manager said:  

"The Victoria Centre has been at the heart of Nottingham for 40 years and will be part of its success in the years to come. That's why we want to invest now and why we are proud to make these commitments to our shoppers and the local community.  

We have taken meticulous care to understand the views of local residents, shoppers and the community about our plans.  The response has been incredibly positive - with over 92% of local people behind us - and we will give people another chance to meet the team at a further exhibition on Friday 17 June. 

We have met our target to submit in the first half of this year and with the support of Nottingham City Council, we hope to start work on the centre as early as next year." 

Plans for the Victoria Centre received the backing of 92% of local shoppers during a recent public exhibition. The proposals were also backed by: 

Cllr Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, who said:

"Nottingham is open for business and these plans are a great sign of confidence in the future of our city centre. We've prioritised growth in this election period and it is great to see deliverable plans put forward by the Victoria Centre team that will create thousands of jobs and make Nottingham an even more attractive place for people to shop and enjoy themselves."

Gary Rowntree, Retail BID Chairman, who said: 

"Retail is a critical part of Nottingham's story.  At the Nottingham City Retail BID our aim is to make the retail offer as attractive as possible and we therefore welcome plans to expand the Victoria Centre, the city's best loved retail centre."

John Dowson, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, who said: 

"The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce is supportive of the plans to expand the Victoria Shopping Centre in Nottingham which enhance the city's reputation as a shopping destination and provide a welcome boost to the economy."

The Victoria Centre would be extended to the north, on an area currently used as a multi-storey car park. Car parking facilities will be improved through a new underground car-park beneath the extended centre.   

Key facts

• 1 new department store, bus station, and arcade

• A state of the art 10 screen cinema 

• New family-friendly restaurants

• 39 additional stores 

• Over 100 new cycle parking stands

• 2,000 permanent new jobs will be created in the centre

• Currently 23 million customer visits to Victoria Centre every year