BOSSES at an Alexandria shopping centre hope to be given the green light to forge ahead with ambitious expansion plans – which could see the creation of as many as 50 jobs.

Antartex Village have lodged papers with West Dunbartonshire Council, asking the local authority to renew permission to develop part of the centre.

It is understood that they hope to establish a new soft play, children’s area and cafe, along with a variety of other improvements.

In the application, Antartex Village are requesting the “partial demolition and redevelopment of the existing retail unit with ancillary uses including a new cafe, soft play area, outdoor seating area with children’s play area, and associated improvements to the main access, car park, coach parking, landscaping and the provision of a coach drivers rest area and ancillary works”.

Planning permission was initially granted way back in 2013 but the centre owners, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, decided not to proceed at that time.

This time around they are hoping that renewed permission will be granted and that the project can press ahead.

Their application to renew permission will be discussed by members of West Dunbartonshire Council’s Planning Committee tomorrow, Wednesday at the local authority’s HQ, in Garshake Road.

Their application says: “This application seeks to renew a previous planning permission for this site which has not been implemented (decision DC12/093).

“The proposal is to substantially reconfigure the development in order to improve its attractiveness.

“The main elements of the proposal include the demolition of the unused

parts of the building, and construction of replacement retail floorspace.

“The current buildings which form the Antartex Village extend to 5,235m², of which it is proposed to retain 2,700m² and demolish 2,535m².

“In its place, 2,700m² of replacement floorspace would be constructed, thereby in

creasing the overall floorspace by only 165m² to a total of 5,400m.”

Included within the reconfigured and extended building would be a café, children’s soft play area and coach drivers’ facilities, whilst externally, outdoor seating and a children’s play area would be formed.

The coach and car parking areas are to be remodelled, with the car park capacity being increased from 82 spaces to 112 spaces- with eight coach spaces.

The report to go before councillors states: “The applicant has indicated that the redevelopment of the site has potential to create an additional 50 jobs.”