The development will see the existing L-shaped shopping centre converted into a U-shape with a new wing where the centre’s car park currently stands.

The new two-storey wing will feature retail space on the ground floor and a childcare centre upstairs, accessed by a new lift.

The existing IGA supermarket would more than double its floor space to around 1200 square metres and a vacant block beside the centre would be converted to a car park.

Under the initial recommendations, the existing service road access from Suttor Street was to be closed and access to the property only occur via Wark Parade.

A footpath would be constructed within the footway on Suttor Street to restore pedestrian access for the full frontage of the site. 

Councillor Ian North took issue with the recommendation, concerned the closure would create a “bottleneck” for traffic. 

He put forward a motion that the service road access be modified to allow left out movements only.

“Your vision coming out of the old Wark Parade, if you were to turn right I would have a problem, turning left you have fairly good vision down to the right,” Cr North said.

After discussion, councillors agreed on the motion.

As per the initial recommendation, a pylon sign that will act as a directory is to be reduced to a maximum height of six metres.