A massive Perth regeneration plan, which was unveiled to the public days before Christmas, will take a major leap forward next month.
Proposals for the city’s £30 million Mill Quarter complex are to be discussed by members of the council’s development management committee.
Councillors will be asked to raise any issues that need to be addressed before a planning application is lodged in the spring.
However, they will be discouraged from voicing their opinions on the development, or face being barred from future talks.
The project, earmarked for the Thimblerow car park, is expected to include a multiplex cinema, bars, restaurants and shops. A gym and student accommodation block is also planned.
In his memo to councillors, development quality manager Nick Brian said several factors will have to be addressed and submitted by designers, including a full traffic and transport assessment, a flood risk study and a report on any cultural heritage areas in or around the site.
A retail impact assessment will also be drawn up.
The plan will go before the committee on January 13.
Unveiling its plans earlier this month, Expresso Property said there was already strong demand from potential, big-name tenants.
The company’s Nick Robinson said businesses, including well-known international chains, were “queuing up” to be part of the complex.
“It’s early doors, but we have a good number of high-quality operators waiting to get on board,” he said. “These will be firmed up as the planning process goes on.”
The cinema alone is expected to bring in an extra 300,000 people to the city each year.
If approved, the plan will include around 31,100 sq ft of retail roughly eight to nine shops and restaurants while the cinema will have a floor space of 21,400 sq ft.
The student housing block will include 122 beds and there are also plans for a 200-space multi-storey car park, which is roughly the same number of bays at the existing Thimblerow site.
It is expected the development will create 150 full and part-time jobs, plus around 350 posts during the 18-month construction phase.
If all goes to plan, work could begin on site next year.