PLANS submitted for Crewe's Royal Arcade regeneration pledge to "reinvigorate" the town centre - although it will be 2025 before the full scheme is complete.

Developers Peveril Securities have submitted a two-phased hybrid planning application to Cheshire East Council this week and say their proposals will help "instil civic pride" by providing an attractive bus interchange with a fully enclosed passenger waiting area and a 411-space short-stay multi-storey car park.

Demolition work at the site - which has seen the levelling of shopping units along Victoria Street/Queensway/Delamere Street - was started towards the end of last year and the car park and bus station are to rise on the rubble-strewn site.

But the retail and leisure element of the regeneration project, which includes a cinema, bowling alley, gym and restaurants, will not be completed until 2025. The plans for that are in outline form and leaving detailed design matters will be submitted at a later date.

The first phase detailed planning application will see the demolition of the existing bus station, the build of a new interchange and a multi-storey car park, with the work due to start later this year and scheduled opening of both by 2023.

Peveril says the station will keep its existing access from Victoria Street, with minor

modifications, while there will be a new access provided on Delamere Street, to the west of the existing bus access.

Motorists will drive into the multi-storey from another access point on Delamere Street with an exit via Tower Way.

Crewe's 1960s bus interchange has fallen into disrepair over recent years and the developers are promising a station fit for purpose for the 21st century.

The demolition work has left it intact and a temporary lay-out will be put in place by next year while the major building work is carried out.

In a design and access document, the developers state: "It is envisaged that the completed development will act as a major attraction which will help to revitalise the town centre.

"The proposed development will bring jobs to the town. Construction jobs have already commenced with the ongoing demolition of the Royal Arcade buildings and will continue through to completion and then operational jobs will then follow once the development is fully open.

"The proposed development will significantly improve the town's leisure and retail offer when compared to competing centres in the region.

"It should also instil a sense of civic pride in the high-quality new buildings and public spaces."

The retail/leisure outlets include four retail units, six restaurants/eateries, an eight-screen cinema, 16-lane bowling centre, space for a gym and extensive public realm improvements.

A public consultation on the whole scheme was undertaken during March.

Manchester-based planning agents Q&A have said: "By taking this approach the general uses and the layout of the leisure and retail scheme can be considered at the same time as the bus station and multi-storey car park, leaving detailed design matters to be submitted at a later date.

"It means that the new bus station and car park would be opened ahead of the leisure and retail space."

Previous plans to redevelop part of the Royal Arcade site had to be shelved in 2008 when developers Modus went bust.

Cheshire East Council bought the site and has partnered with the current developers to progress the scheme.