Property and Development specialists, Redco Milne today launched their proposal for a retail led, mixed use scheme set in the town centre of Forres, which would reinstate the town as a premier shopping destination in Moray and strengthen the local economy by creating up to 500 full and part-time jobs.

Redco Milne are proposing a £25 million redevelopment of the area north of Bogton Road, which currently encompasses existing sites including the derelict former Tesco site on Gordon Street and the current Forres Mechanics Football Club ground at Mosset Park.

With plans to bring on board a range of national retailing chains to compliment the existing range of local shops, this exciting multi million pound project will significantly expand the current choice and promises to deliver a vibrant and contemporary shopping experience for the people of Forres and the surrounding areas.

The retail elements of the proposals are likely to include:

• Additional non-food retail units
• A new garden centre
• A supermarket unit with a linked petrol filling station

In addition the development will support a range of further leisure uses including:

• 60 bedroom hotel - Restaurant / visitor centre
• A new football ground for Forres Mechanics
• A new play area to the East of the site for recreational use

The development will be accommodated with the inclusion of:

• 380 space 'shoppers car park' to service the town centre
• A new access point to and from the A96 and the development
• Improved pedestrian and cycle access to Forres High Street

Malcolm Deans, Managing Director of Stewart Milne Developments said: "We are pleased to be able to announce our development proposals which we believe will provide significantly better shopping and leisure provision to the local community in Forres. This £25m investment has the potential to deliver 500 new jobs into the local economy and arrest the leakage of retail trade from Forres that too often has resulted in local people having to go to Inverness or Elgin to buy goods and access services that ought to be closer to home.

Our focus is to design a scheme that increases trade and the vitality of the town centre. Unlike most modern retail developments we see the clear advantages of being located right in the heart of the town and believe our development can assist by delivering better access, better parking and greater capacity that will benefit all businesses that are located in the established town centre. Our vision is to extend and reinforce Forres Town Centre as a place where local people want to stay and do their shopping, and to visually promote this new vitality to those travelling along the bypass.

No aspect of our proposal launched today is final and we are keen to undertake a consultation programme with the local community. I hope members of the public and local businesses will be able to attend the public exhibition we intend to hold later this month and tell us first hand what they think about the proposals. These views will be fully considered and responded to prior to any planning applications being submitted next year.'

Redco Milne are planning to hold a public exhibition on their proposals at the end of the month. Redco Milne will then continue to consult the local community and key stakeholders over the next three months prior to the submission of any planning application to Moray Council.

The public exhibition will be held on Friday 28 November between 1pm-8pm at Forres Town Hall.