Expanding Bentalls shopping complex and providing high quality premises for businesses are among ideas for boosting employment.

The Causeway Rengeneration Area is the main centre for industrial use in the district.

But a council report said: “Many of the industrial units are in a state of disrepair and uses on the site have become fragmented as derelict industrial space has come up for redevelopment for other uses, notably retail and residential.”

Aquila still plans to create a £20million business park at the former Brooks Brother timber yard, which has been hampered by the economic climate.

It will include large retail units, a 57-bedroom hotel and a restaurant, creating than 160 jobs.

The Baltic Consortium was granted permission earlier this year for the redevelopment of Sadds Wharf in Station Road, including 93 homes, offices and leisure facilities.

See this week's MBS for the full story.