Bulldozers move in to demolish Dolphin Square

WORK started this week to demolish Weston-super-Mare's Dolphin Square shopping complex.

Bulldozers moved on site today to knock down the shopping, office and flats complex which was built in the 1960s.

Demolition work will take three months to complete and building work is expected to start in the Spring.

The regeneration scheme will see the creation of a new eight screen cinema, indoor bowling alley, eight new retail units and eight cafes and restaurants.

Vue Cinemas, Prezzo, First Bowl, Pizza Express, Nandos and Harvester have already been confirmed for the new Dolphin Square.

The whole scheme, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, is expected to create around 450 new jobs for the town.

The indoor market within Dolphin Square has already relocated to a new home at Pier Square.

This is the final phase of the multi million pound regeneration project being led by developer McClaren Life.

A new 112 bed Premier Hotel has already opened on the former Beach Road car park and a new 380 space car park opened at Carlton Street.

McClaren Life has also allocated £1.5 million to highways and public realm improvements in the High Street, Carlton Street and Union Street as part of the regeneration project and is also assisting with the town centre's new car parking management scheme.