DEVELOPERS have announced more details of a £30m plan to transform a city shopping centre into a cinema, restaurants, shops and student digs.

London-based property developers Clearbell Capital bought The Gates, next to the River Wear in Durham city centre, for £11.85m this summer.

Bosses want to create the area’s largest multi-screen cinema, 30,000sq ft of new restaurants, accommodation for up to 300 students and a new shopping street.

The plans go on public display at The Gates next week (November 28-29) and planning consultant Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners says the existing complex would be “remodelled”, with “elements of new build”.

A new “external shopping street” would be created off Framwelgate Bridge, the cafes, restaurants and cinema would be reached from an “elevated promenade” and the accommodation would be above on upper floors.

The proposals will be the subject of a public exhibition on Friday (November 28) from noon to 7pm and Saturday (November 29) from 9.30am to 1pm when officials will answer questions.

They say the project would support 195 jobs during the construction phase and another 120 posts when completed.

Nick Berry, partner at Clearbell, said: “We are very excited about the proposed improvements to The Gates.

“Durham has long been starved of a cinema and we think residents from the city and surrounding area deserve a better place to eat, shop and be entertained.

“The plans should unlock the potential of this unique setting and we are looking forward to hearing people’s feedback.

Jonathan Wallace, director at Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, said: “It will open currently inaccessible views across the River Wear towards the city, castle and cathedral World Heritage Site.

“These proposals combine the re-modelling of parts of the existing centre with elements of new build development creating an improved retail environment which will attract new retailers into the city centre.”

There have been growing calls for Durham to get its own multiplex cinema.

The Gates opened as the Millburngate shopping centre in the 1980s but has struggled in the face of competition from edge-of-town retail parks and city centre vials such as the Prince Bishops shopping centre.

Its flagshop Waitrose store closed in 2008 after just three years and the centre itself went into administration in 2012.

However, the 130,000sq ft mall still attracts 3.5m visitors every year, has 49 shop units, a 473-space car park and six residential properties.