IT has waited several years but could 2012 finally be the moment when work begins to bring a new multiplex cinema and retail park to Wisbech?

Looking at the old stadium site in Cromwell Road one might be forgiven for wondering just when work might start.

But this week Tesco assured Wisbech Standard readers that the project to demolish their existing store and create a retail park whilst building a new superstore and cinema and restaurants complex on Cromwell Road is still very muck alive.

A spokesman explained that the hold up was finding signing up tenants for the new retail park to be created in Sandown Road but they remain confident of an early resolution.

Planning specialists from global management and technical consultancy, WYG, helped secure dual planning permissions on behalf of Cromwell Retail Park Ltd for the �50 million development.

Submitted to Fenland District Council, the 25,000 sq m scheme will create over 500 new jobs and will see the former Wisbech greyhound stadium on Cromwell Road transformed. Plans include a 10,200 sq m Tesco food superstore, an eight-screen cinema operated by The Light Cinemas and a restaurant complex including family restaurant Frankie & Benny’s.

On a neighbouring site, a further 10,400 sq m retail park has also been given the go ahead, with a number of retailers being lined up including, Next, Brantano, Matalan, New Look, Dreams and Sports World.

Bethany Brown, Associate Planner, WYG said: “The development will provide significant investment to the area whilst creating much needed employment.”

The scheme was anticipated to start in late 2011 and to be completed in two phases with overall completion hoped for late autumn 2013 but those deadlines have now been put back.