A PLAN to extend the southside of County Mall has been agreed by councillors.
The revamp will give shops on the station side of the Mall 1828sqm extra retail floorspace and will involve altering the carpark and building a new access ramp.
The extensions will help County Mall compete with the Town Centre North development by providing a unit large enough to accommodate an additional anchor store, according to a report presented to councillors.
A number of trees and shrubs including a mature oak will be lost as part of the development.
Mall staff will lose 30 carparking spaces and a further ten customers spaces will go.
The plan was agreed by the Development Control Committee at the Town Hall on Monday January 23 with no significant objections.
The report to councillors on the committee concluded: “The scheme does not prejudice Town Centre North and would enhance the existing retail provision in County Mall at the southern end of the Town Centre.
Speaking on behalf of the developers, James Wickham, of Standard Life, said: “We’re very enthusiastic about this development and well-advanced in its design.
“By reconfiguring retail units we want to get the east of the Mall working and secure its long term future.”