FUNDING to regenerate Bridgwater’s Northgate site could be signed off as early as this spring.

Sedgemoor District Council published detailed plans in October 2019 for the redevelopment of the vacant site, which will include a seven-screen cinema, restaurants and a gym.

The council – which owns the site – will be fully funding the scheme, and has now set a date for when this funding will be signed off by elected members.

If all goes to plan, construction will begin by the summer, with a view to the new facilities being operational a year later.

Details of the Northgate project were published as part of a wider report on capital spending, due to be discussed by the council’s executive committee on Wednesday morning (February 19).

A spokesman said: “Following detailed evaluation of commercial bids made for the Mount Street site, we agreed to self-fund a leisure based scheme comprising a seven-screen cinema together with four restaurants.

“The scheme is progressing well, with Scott Cinemas signed up to provide a seven-screen cinema, an agreement is almost in place for the use of the first floor, and marketing is underway to secure commercial interest in the restaurants.

“The planning application has been submitted and a report will be presented to members in May 2020, where they will be asked to approve the capital budget for the development to be built out and completed by the autumn of 2021.”

The council has not given any general breakdown of funding for the Northgate scheme in its capital budget, which will be approved by the full council on Thursday (February 20).